Prince Andrew's downfall as a working royal is unquestionably intertwined with his connection to the late disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. While Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing, he was accused by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre (née Roberts) of sexually assaulting her three times when she was 17 years old. The two apparently met through Epstein and his companion Ghislaine Maxwell, the latter of whom was convicted of sex trafficking of a minor following Epstein's death by suicide in 2019. (Maxwell maintains her innocence.) Prince Andrew initially stepped back from his royal duties as the Epstein scandal exploded in 2019, but it wasn't until the allegations resurfaced in October 2025 that he formally gave up his royal title. "[I will] no longer use my title or the honors which have been conferred upon me," he told Us Weekly in a statement. "As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me." Prince Andrew's Ups and Downs Leading Up to Losing Royal Title Keep scrolling for a full timeline of Andrew's connection to Epstein. Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein's Introduction Andrew told Newsnight journalist Emily Maitlis in a bombshell 2019 interview that he was introduced to Epstein in 1999, which differs from notes taken by the prince's private secretary in 2011, which specified that Andrew and the financier met in "the early 1990s." The two men were reportedly introduced by Maxwell, Prince Andrew's longtime friend and Epstein's companion. Jeffrey Epstein Visited Prince Andrew at Windsor Castle Andrew confirmed to Newsnight that Epstein visited him at Windsor Castle and Sandringham in 2000, though he specified that the financier wasn't given a formal invitation from the royal family. "[It was] certainly at my invitation, not at the Royal Family's invitation but remember that it was his girlfriend [Maxwell] that was the key element in this," Andrew insisted. "He was, as it were, plus one, to some extent in that aspect." That same year, Andrew and Epstein were both spotted at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Epstein's Conviction In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to charges of child prostitution and soliciting a prostitute. As part of a plea deal, he served only 13 months behind bars. Prince Andrew told Newsnight that he'd "ceased contact" with Epstein throughout the investigation and trial, but got back in touch in 2010. "It was one of those things that somebody's going through that sort of thing, 'Well I'm terribly sorry I can't be [seen with] you,'" he explained. Prince Andrew's New York Visit Prince Andrew made a very controversial decision to visit Epstein at his New York City mansion in 2010, following the convicted sex offender's release from the Palm Beach County Jail. On Newsnight, the royal was asked why he'd agreed to stay at Epstein's home in light of his conviction. "I've questioned myself as to why did I go and what was I doing and was it the right thing to do?" he said. "Now, I went there with the sole purpose of saying to him that because he had been convicted, it was inappropriate for us to be seen together." The two were seen together days later when the paparazzi photographed them on a walk in Central Park. Davidoff Studios/Getty Images "We had an opportunity to go for a walk in the park and that was the conversation coincidentally that was photographed which was when I said to him, I said, 'Look, because of what has happened, I don't think it is appropriate that we should remain in contact,' and by mutual agreement during that walk in the park we decided that we would part company and I left," Andrew told Newsnight. "I think it was the next day and to this day I never had any contact with him from that day forward." Andrew Resigns From Key Role The repercussions over Andrew and Epstein's Central Park photograph were swift, as Buckingham Palace announced in 2011 that Andrew would resign as a U.K. trade envoy. Sexual Assault Allegation Against Andrew As part of a victim's rights lawsuit against Epstein and Maxwell, Giuffre alleged that she was sexually abused by Andrew when she was 17 years old in 2001. Following a night out at London's Tramp nightclub with Epstein, Maxwell and Andrew, Giuffre alleged that she was paid $15,000 by Maxwell and told to "do for [Prince Andrew] what you do for Epstein" at Maxwell's apartment. "I've no recollection of ever meeting her. I'm, almost, in fact I'm convinced that I was never in Tramps with her," Andrew told Newsnight in 2019. "There are a number of things that are wrong with that story, one of which is that I don't know where the bar is in Tramps. I don't drink. I don't think I've ever bought a drink in Tramps whenever I was there." In another fiery exchange from his Newsnight interview, Maitlis brought up Giuffre's memory of Andrew "profusely sweating" as they danced together at Tramps. Stephen Pond/Getty Images "There's a slight problem with the sweating because I have a pec