In the light of the latest Royal family scandal, with former Prince Andrew this week having been arrested by police on suspicion of misconduct, and his well documented ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the family has been haunted by multiple scandals through the centuries.
From abdications and affairs to suspicious deaths and alleged crimes, the British monarchy’s carefully cultivated image has repeatedly been tarnished by controversy. The current crisis involving Andrew marks what some historians consider the gravest royal scandal since 1936, but it is far from the first time the institution has faced public scrutiny.
20th century: a century of crisis
The modern era brought unprecedented media attention to royal scandals, with each controversy reshaping public perception of the monarchy.
1936 – The abdication crisis
King Edward VIII shocked the nation when he abdicated in a BBC broadcast to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson. The Church of England refused to permit the marriage while he remained king, forcing him to choose between the throne and the woman he loved.
The decision destabilised the monarchy and raised questions about Edward’s judgment, particularly amid later stories of his possible fascist sympathies. The abdication set a precedent that would echo through later royal dramas.
1959 – Duchess of Argyll divorce
The scandalous divorce of the Duchess of Argyll became a public sensation when compromising Polaroid photographs emerged during proceedings, exposing the private lives of the aristocracy to public scrutiny.
1976 – Princess Margaret’s affair
The Queen’s sister Princess Margaret’s relationship with Roddy Llewellyn, a man 17 years her junior, caused controversy and damaged the royal family’s reputation during a period when traditional values were still expected from its members.
1992 – The “annus horribilis”
Queen Elizabeth II famously described 1992 as her “horrible year” as multiple royal marriages collapsed. The year saw the separation of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, as well as Prince Andrew’s split from Sarah Ferguson.
1992-1993 – Sarah Ferguson scandals
The Duchess of York was photographed topless with financial adviser John Bryan, sparking outrage. She later faced criticism over mounting debts and would go on to be caught in a 2010 cash-for-access sting. Her connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein would also emerge as a source of controversy.
1993 – “Camillagate”
An intimate phone conversation between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles was leaked to the press, revealing their affair whilst Charles was still married to Diana. The scandal caused deep embarrassment to the heir to the throne.
1995 – Diana’s explosive interview
Princess Diana gave an explosive BBC interview in which she stated “there were three of us in this marriage”, publicly acknowledging both her own and Charles’s infidelity. The interview sent shockwaves through the establishment and marked a turning point in public perception of the royal marriage.
1996 – Charles and Diana divorce
The high-profile divorce of the Prince and Princess of Wales followed years of public recriminations and media coverage. The settlement included provisions for Diana to remain at Kensington Palace and share custody of Prince William and Prince Harry.
1997 – Diana’s death
Princess Diana and her partner Dodi Fayed died in a Paris car crash whilst fleeing paparazzi. The tragedy sparked global mourning and intense criticism of both the media and the royal family’s initial response.
21st century: the scandals continue
2019-2022 – Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein
Andrew was accused by Virginia Giuffre of sexual assault linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking network. His 2019 BBC interview, in which he claimed he had “no recollection” of meeting Giuffre and defended his friendship with Epstein, was widely criticised.
He reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022, but the public fallout continued. In October 2025, King Charles III stripped him of all titles and evicted him from his royal home.
2020 – “Megxit”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from royal duties created another crisis for the family. Their subsequent interview with Oprah Winfrey included allegations of racism within the institution and claims of inadequate support for Meghan’s mental health.
Historical scandals: centuries of controversy
Long before the modern media age, the British monarchy was plagued by scandals that would have made headlines had newspapers existed in their current form.
Georgian era (1700s-1800s)
Queen Anne’s falling out
Queen Anne’s intense relationship with Sarah Churchill ended in a bitter falling out when Abigail Masham replaced Churchill in the queen’s affections. The breakdown and subsequent memoirs caused significant public controversy.
Prince Henry’s affair
The Duke of Cumberland was caught in a compromising position with Henrietta, Lady Grosvenor at a St Albans inn. Lord Grosvenor sued for damages in a case that scandalised Georgian society.
George III’s troubled family
King George III’s family provided multiple scandals including his eldest son’s secret marriage, gambling debts and public drunkenness. A notable incident occurred in 1809 when the prince was involved in a scuffle at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. George III himself suffered bouts of mental illness that raised questions about the stability of the monarchy.
1810 – The Duke of Cumberland mystery
Ernest Augustus, son of George III, was suspected in the death of his valet Joseph Sellis on 31 May 1810. Rumours circulated that the valet had discovered the duke with another male valet, though the death was officially recorded as suicide in a locked-room mystery that was never fully resolved.
Tudor era (1500s)
Henry VIII’s marriages
King Henry VIII’s multiple marriages, divorces and executions of wives including Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard shocked Europe. His break with Rome to create the Church of England was driven by his desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon, fundamentally changing British history.
Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley
Queen Elizabeth I’s alleged love affair with Robert Dudley became the subject of scandal, particularly after the suspicious death of Dudley’s wife Amy in 1560. Amy died in a fall down stairs, but many suspected foul play to free Dudley to marry the queen.
Medieval scandals
1483 – The Princes in the Tower
The disappearance and presumed murder of King Edward V and his brother Richard in the Tower of London remains one of British history’s greatest mysteries. Suspicion fell on their uncle Richard III, who took the throne after declaring the boys illegitimate.
1100 – William II’s death
King William II was shot by an arrow in the New Forest in what was officially described as a hunting accident. However, the circumstances led many to suspect assassination, though no one was ever charged with the killing.
The latest scandal involving Andrew’s arrest adds another chapter to this long history of royal controversy, demonstrating that even in the modern era, the British monarchy remains vulnerable to the actions of its members.
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