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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The late Queen was the victim of multiple pranks at the hands of her favourite son Prince Andrew, royal insider reveals
Queen Elizabeth II was the victim of multiple pranks at the hands of her favourite son Prince Andrew. The Duke of York's mischievous behaviour towards his mother was revealed by Robert Lacey in his book Battle Of Brothers. His practical jokes included putting itching powder inside his mother's bed and creeping behind a member of the Queen's Guard and tying their shoelaces together. The prince's most dramatic stunt involved climbing on the roof of the palace to change the direction of the TV aerial so the Queen could not watch her favourite horserace from Sandown Park. Despite his naughty actions, it is likely that Andrew was able to get away without any repercussions due to his coveted position as the late Queen's favourite son. Their close relationship was believed to have been because of the timing of Andrew's birth during the Queen's reign. The Duke of York was born in 1960, eight years after the Queen was crowned, while Charles and Anne had been toddlers when their mother became the monarch. This meant that, during their formative years, Elizabeth was busy on royal tours and learning to navigate her new role as Queen. But by the time Andrew was born, she had grown into her role much more and was therefore able to take a much active role in his, and younger brother Edward's, upbringing. For example, Elizabeth was able to even pick up the two boys from school in her own car and even attend sports days. A royal insider previously told the Telegraph, that Elizabeth liked Andrew because he was 'straightforward' and could make her 'laugh and raise the family's spirits'. On the other hand, she found Prince Charles 'emotionally complicated'. Meanwhile, Andrew's military service during the Falklands Wars was a source of great pride for his parents and made the prince the darling of the press. However, Prince Philip had a much less warm relationship with Andrew. Royal author Ingrid Sewell wrote in her book, My Mother And I, that Philip 'berated' Andrew for being 'pointless' and he believed the Duke of York 'failed to reach all his family's expectations'. In stark contrast to his relationship with the Queen, Andrew is known to have a more distant relationship with his older brother, with Charles going as far to claim in 2019: 'The problem with my brother [Andrew] is that he wants to be me.' Royal aides have gone as far as to claim that Andrew 'looked down on Charles' and 'thought he would make a much better king than his eldest brother'. His rude behaviour also extends to members of royal staff, with an aide telling royal expert Tom Quinn in his book, Gilded Youth, that Andrew 'was always curt to the staff and dismissive of them – he treated them as if we were living in the Middle Ages.' In 2022, Andrew was accused of 'overbearing' and 'verbally abusive behaviour' towards Palace staff. Former royal protection officer Paul Page has claimed he personally made three separate complaints to the Palace during the time he worked in the Royal Protection Command from 1998 until 2004. Speaking to The Sunday Mirror, Mr Page said that he is aware of 'at least a dozen' other reports made by colleagues about the Duke of York. 'The Palace has a problem because there are instances and evidence of Prince Andrew being overbearing and verbally abusive,' he told the newspaper. Mr Page alleged his complaints during his time working for the Palace were ignored because senior courtiers wanted to avoid agitation. While for many years Andrew was celebrated as the royal family's 'scallywag', Lacey wrote that the Prince's 'dubious choice of business contacts' have 'came to shadow his reputation'. This culminated in Andrew stepping down from his role as a working member of the royal family following his infamous interview with BBC Newsnight about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. More recently, there was further controversy when it was uncovered that he unknowingly struck up a friendly relationship with an alleged Chinese spy. It was even reported that Andrew extended an invitation to the man, known as H6, to visit Buckingham Palace. The man was later banned from Britain by the Government on national security grounds. Since stepping down, Andrew has been involved in an ongoing scuffle with Charles over the Royal Lodge. Located in the leafy countryside surrounded by greenery, the Royal Lodge, which Prince Andrew shares with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, is just three miles from Windsor and 25 miles from London. Charles reportedly wants his younger brother to move out of the lavish 30million Royal Lodge, which has been in the family for centuries, and into Frogmore Cottage, the former residence of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. But moving Andrew hasn't been easy, as a 75-year contract he signed in 2003 means that he can continue living there, as long as he can afford the cost of upkeeping the 30-room mansion. Speaking of Andrew's potential move to Frogmore in January this year, Royal expert Ingrid Seward said: 'It's going to cost him a tenth of what it costs him at Royal Lodge, but that's not how Andrew thinks. He has serious delusions of grandeur and he thinks he needs to live in a house like that. 'If King Charles wants him to leave Royal Lodge, well he's going to have to use persuasion, because legally he can't move him out as he's rented it from the Crown Estate. 'If he can't keep up the roof and the outside and all the things a big house needs, he could be in contravention of his lease and that's the only way he could be moved out.'
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
The quirky UK city named one of the top foodie destinations for 2025 with historic pub crawls and cheap hotels
ONCE known more for its political turmoil than its happy-go-lucky bars and thriving food scene, Belfast is firmly back on the travel map. But the past is still prevalent in the Northern Ireland capital, including at the Titanic museum, which celebrates the history of one of the world's most famous ships, constructed in this very region. Advertisement 3 The traditional Duke Of York pub in Belfast Credit: Alamy 3 The Titanic museum in Northern Ireland's capital Credit: Alamy Here's the lowdown on the city . . . WHY SHOULD I GO? IF These new trendy spots sit shoulder to shoulder with the city's history, from its Troubles-era murals on walls to cobbled streets and traditional pubs where folk music spills out of every doorway. It's got all the buzz of a city break without the crazy prices. Advertisement Read More on Travel ARE THESE STREETS MADE FOR WALKING? BEING both compact and flat, Belfast is a walker's dream. You can hit all the big spots in under 20 minutes from the centre. The famous murals on the Falls and Shankill roads are just a short stroll away. Tourists can also mix with locals at a traditional pub, soak up the buzz in the Cathedral Quarter or amble along the River Lagan. Advertisement Most read in City breaks For longer distances, there's the public bike-sharing scheme, Belfast Bikes, which gives you 30 minutes of free use each day. Or hop on the Glider, Belfast's sleek purple tram, which zips across the city from east to west. It costs just £4 for unlimited daily travel. Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival ANYTHING FOR THE BUCKET LIST? NO trip to Hop into a traditional black taxi with Belfast Black Cab Tours and get the real story behind the city's religious divide. Advertisement It's eye-opening and packed with stories and pub recommendations you won't find in any guidebook. For those more thirsty for booze than history, there's Belfast's Oldest Pubs Tour. For £15, you can join the Belfast Pub Crawl, which takes in five taverns full of character. It kicks off at Kelly's Cellars, which has been Advertisement Then it's on to White's Tavern for the creamiest Guinness in Belfast, before hitting up Henry's & The Jailhouse, a former prison. After a pit stop at McHugh's, with its creaky wooden floors, the night winds down with live music at The Thirsty Goat. WHERE SHOULD I EAT? BELFAST used to be all about the Ulster fry — bacon, eggs, black pudding, sausages and potato farls. Chuck the lot into a bap and you've got yourself an on-the-go version of the traditional meal. Advertisement Belfast Baps in St George's Market is the place to grab one. Each is stuffed to bursting and only costs £8, a steal when they're the size of your face. If you're after something a little more formal, Belfast is also packed with top tier restaurants, being named one of the UK's best food cities for 2025 by Time Out. With a place in the Michelin Guide, Yugo is a popular industrial-style spot tucked down a quiet street. Advertisement It's Asian-fusion menu focuses on small plates created with local ingredients. Be sure to try the crispy chilli pork dumplings and the chef's sushi, made with fish fresh from the nearby lough. 3 The Sun's Isabel Shaw at The Crown Saloon in Belfast Credit: Collect I FANCY A DRINK . . . PUBS in Belfast aren't just about the booze, they're the city's living rooms, where music, stories and lots of craic all come together. Advertisement And with craft breweries, such as Bullhouse East, popping up all over town, there's loads of new spots to try alongside the classics. Despite this, The Sunflower Bar, a local friend told me, is a 'must-visit' for a proper pint with real character. To get in, you have to walk through an old caged door which was used for security purposes in the 1970s. Out back you'll find a big beer garden serving wood-fired pizza, perfect for soaking up those Guinness. Advertisement For those craving a caffeine hit, Belfast's not short of cool, hip coffee spots. Established Coffee was one of the first to arrive, serving top-notch brews alongside some tasty snacks. Don't miss their lemon sherbet pie if it's on the menu. It tastes even better than it sounds, if that's actually possible. Advertisement WHERE SHOULD I STAY? FOR a luxury yet affordable stay right in Belfast's heart, Room2 does hit the spot. This 4H 'hometel' on Queen Street is just a stone's throw from shops and bars and a 15-minute bus or taxi ride from Belfast City Airport. With a cute tea room, eclectic lounge area and an art gallery, it feels like a mix of stylish hotel and your mate's fancy city pad. Plus, guests get two free drinks on arrival. Advertisement And a live singer in the lobby gets the good times started straight away. GO: BELFAST GETTING THERE: Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Belfast International from £16 each way. See STAYING THERE: Rooms at Room2 Belfast start from £92 a night, based on two people sharing and including two welcome drinks. Breakfast costs an additional £13.50pp per night. See
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
The quirky UK city named one of the top foodie destinations for 2025 with historic pub crawls and cheap hotels
It's got all the buzz of a city break without the crazy prices SINK A FEW The quirky UK city named one of the top foodie destinations for 2025 with historic pub crawls and cheap hotels Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ONCE known more for its political turmoil than its happy-go-lucky bars and thriving food scene, Belfast is firmly back on the travel map. But the past is still prevalent in the Northern Ireland capital, including at the Titanic museum, which celebrates the history of one of the world's most famous ships, constructed in this very region. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The traditional Duke Of York pub in Belfast Credit: Alamy 3 The Titanic museum in Northern Ireland's capital Credit: Alamy Here's the lowdown on the city . . . WHY SHOULD I GO? IF Dublin's the posh, polished brother, Belfast's the cooler, quirkier sister, packed with funky cafes, craft breweries and hip hotels that have been popping up on every corner. These new trendy spots sit shoulder to shoulder with the city's history, from its Troubles-era murals on walls to cobbled streets and traditional pubs where folk music spills out of every doorway. It's got all the buzz of a city break without the crazy prices. ARE THESE STREETS MADE FOR WALKING? BEING both compact and flat, Belfast is a walker's dream. You can hit all the big spots in under 20 minutes from the centre. The famous murals on the Falls and Shankill roads are just a short stroll away. Tourists can also mix with locals at a traditional pub, soak up the buzz in the Cathedral Quarter or amble along the River Lagan. For longer distances, there's the public bike-sharing scheme, Belfast Bikes, which gives you 30 minutes of free use each day. Or hop on the Glider, Belfast's sleek purple tram, which zips across the city from east to west. It costs just £4 for unlimited daily travel. Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival ANYTHING FOR THE BUCKET LIST? NO trip to Belfast is complete without a history lesson from a cabbie. Hop into a traditional black taxi with Belfast Black Cab Tours and get the real story behind the city's religious divide. It's eye-opening and packed with stories and pub recommendations you won't find in any guidebook. For those more thirsty for booze than history, there's Belfast's Oldest Pubs Tour. For £15, you can join the Belfast Pub Crawl, which takes in five taverns full of character. It kicks off at Kelly's Cellars, which has been pouring pints since 1720. Then it's on to White's Tavern for the creamiest Guinness in Belfast, before hitting up Henry's & The Jailhouse, a former prison. After a pit stop at McHugh's, with its creaky wooden floors, the night winds down with live music at The Thirsty Goat. WHERE SHOULD I EAT? BELFAST used to be all about the Ulster fry — bacon, eggs, black pudding, sausages and potato farls. Chuck the lot into a bap and you've got yourself an on-the-go version of the traditional meal. Belfast Baps in St George's Market is the place to grab one. Each is stuffed to bursting and only costs £8, a steal when they're the size of your face. If you're after something a little more formal, Belfast is also packed with top tier restaurants, being named one of the UK's best food cities for 2025 by Time Out. With a place in the Michelin Guide, Yugo is a popular industrial-style spot tucked down a quiet street. It's Asian-fusion menu focuses on small plates created with local ingredients. Be sure to try the crispy chilli pork dumplings and the chef's sushi, made with fish fresh from the nearby lough. 3 The Sun's Isabel Shaw at The Crown Saloon in Belfast Credit: Collect I FANCY A DRINK . . . PUBS in Belfast aren't just about the booze, they're the city's living rooms, where music, stories and lots of craic all come together. And with craft breweries, such as Bullhouse East, popping up all over town, there's loads of new spots to try alongside the classics. Despite this, The Sunflower Bar, a local friend told me, is a 'must-visit' for a proper pint with real character. To get in, you have to walk through an old caged door which was used for security purposes in the 1970s. Out back you'll find a big beer garden serving wood-fired pizza, perfect for soaking up those Guinness. For those craving a caffeine hit, Belfast's not short of cool, hip coffee spots. Established Coffee was one of the first to arrive, serving top-notch brews alongside some tasty snacks. Don't miss their lemon sherbet pie if it's on the menu. It tastes even better than it sounds, if that's actually possible. WHERE SHOULD I STAY? FOR a luxury yet affordable stay right in Belfast's heart, Room2 does hit the spot. This 4H 'hometel' on Queen Street is just a stone's throw from shops and bars and a 15-minute bus or taxi ride from Belfast City Airport. With a cute tea room, eclectic lounge area and an art gallery, it feels like a mix of stylish hotel and your mate's fancy city pad. Plus, guests get two free drinks on arrival. And a live singer in the lobby gets the good times started straight away.
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Queen's gift that turned into a disaster revealed: How a lavish wedding gift for Fergie and Prince Andrew ended up bringing the late monarch to her breaking point
He has spent the past year trying to persuade his disgraced brother Prince Andrew to move out of Royal Lodge, in Windsor Great Park, where he has lived for the past two decades, since the death of the Queen Mother in 2002. The King has cut Andrew's private security and £1 million allowance in a bid to encourage him to move into nearby Frogmore Cottage, the former home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, which is more modest and easier to guard. But now a new Channel 5 documentary, reveals that the late Queen Elizabeth II was equally pushed to breaking point by her favourite son, when he and the Duchess of York were building their first marital home, Sunninghill Park. And she finally cut off the purse strings after the bills for the 30-bedroom mansion, which, in a twist on JR's Dallas ranch Southfork, became known as SouthYork, spiralled out of control, topping their budget of £250,000. Speaking on the programme Fergie, Andrew & The Scandal of SouthYork, author Andrew Lownie, who has written a biography about the couple, Entitled, said: 'The Queen, I think, eventually put her foot down and said, you know, this is crazy. 'At that point, they hadn't built the swimming pool and the tennis court, and who knows whether the helicopter pad was there then either.' It is now almost half a century since Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson on July 23, 1986, in front of 2,000 guests at Westminster Abbey, including celebrities such as Sir Elton John and Michael Caine. The wedding list reputedly totalled £1.5million and more than 2,000 gifts were received from all over the world. They were temporarily stored in the Buckingham Palace Ballroom. Top priority for the couple was to find their marital home, which was a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth. But the couple could not find anywhere to meet their exacting demands. Finally, the Queen offered them the site of Sunninghill Park, a 5,000-acre estate with lakes, woodlands and gardens, which sat on the edge of Windsor Great Park, four miles from where Andrew now lives. The 18th century house, which was requisitioned by the American Ninth Air Force squadron of fighter pilots during World War II, had been earmarked for a young Princess Elizabeth and her fiancé, Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten after their 1947 marriage. But during renovations, a workman in the library dropped a cigarette and the whole building went up on flames. Despite dozens of firemen battling to save the mansion, it was razed to the ground. Work began on the newbuild – the first Royal newbuild since Bagshot Park in 1879 – but immediately attracted controversy over its design, by architect Dunbar Naismith, which was more American ranch than English stately home. 'They tweaked and reshaped the designs over and over again, much to the frustration of their architect, said Talk TV's Royal editor Sarah Hewson. 'When Prince Philip, never one to mince his words, saw the plans, he described it as looking like a 'tart's bedroom'.' Fergie then caused a huge uproar by commissioning the American designer Sister Parrish, who had designed the White House, to decorate Sunninghill Park. She got a quote for £1 million and handed it to the Queen, who complained that the price was too high, forcing her to switch to the British designer Nina Campbell, who had designed London hotspot Annabel's. She was reportedly given a budget of £250,000 – almost half a million today – to cater for the couple's long list of demands, which included a panic room, cinema room, helipad, swimming pool and tennis courts. However, their extravagant designs spiralled out of control and broke the couple's budget. At that stage, midway through 1990, the Palace refused to pay any more. 'By this stage, Sunninghill Park was proving to be a financial headache,' added Hewson, 'in particular, for the Queen, notoriously financially prudent who was having to foot the ever-escalating bills.' Instead of accepting the decision, Fergie looked around to find another way to earn the money. She came up with another way to fund her dream home, inviting Hello! magazine in to do a lavish photoshoot. They were paid £200,000 for a 45-page spread, which led to them being derided over their taste: the house was filled with teddy bears, cushions with trite slogans, personalised toilet holders including one that sang God Save The Queen.' The Yorks moved in to the house in October 1990 and threw a huge housewarming party with a jungle theme with waitresses in leopard skin and fake animals in the bushes 'Fergie had a very enterprising idea that she would do a photoshoot for Hello!' said Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine. 'Nobody in the royal family had ever done a shoot like that.' 'Although the Queen never commented publicly on it, she was less than pleased,' added Hewson. 'She saw it as lacking decorum that it was an invasion of privacy. Prince Philip, he just thought it was downright tacky and distasteful.' The Yorks finally moved in on October 5, 1990, throwing a huge housewarming party with a jungle theme. There were fake animals popping out of the bushes, waitresses in leopard skin and Elton John performed Your Song. Andrew and Sarah mingled with guests including Billy Connolly, Pamela Stephenson David Frost and Imran Khan, before slow dancing on the dance floor. However, the couple's marriage was already on the rocks as Andrew, who was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, was stationed at sea and Fergie was stranded home alone with Princesses Beatrice, two, and baby Eugenie. Within 18 months, after Fergie was caught having an affair with American playboy Steve Wyatt, Andrew filed for divorce and the SouthYork dream was over. Fergie, Andrew & The Scandal of SouthYork is on Channel 5 on Saturday July 26 at 8pm.
Telegraph
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Why FBI dropping Epstein case is bad news for Prince Andrew
The Duke of York is off the hook. After more than five years of him living under suspicion, fearing that knock at the door, the FBI has drawn a line under its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's network of friends and associates. It will release no more files nor pursue any 'third parties'. But there should be no popping of champagne corks at Royal Lodge, the Duke's Windsor home. Rarely has there been such a pyrrhic victory. For while the decision not to pursue those connected to Epstein may well be a weight off the Duke's shoulders, it changes nothing. In fact, one could argue the decision to close the case does not help him at all. If the Duke is innocent, as he has long protested, he would have been better served by the FBI either opening its files to the public or conducting a thorough investigation. Put him through the wringer and then exonerate him once and for all. This was exactly the Duke's aim when he insisted on pursuing the late Virginia Giuffre's high-profile civil case through the courts. He vehemently denied her allegations that he had raped and abused her three times when she was 17. Utterly convinced that he would clear his name, he was determined to take it to trial, to let a jury hear the evidence and decide his fate. In the event, Queen Elizabeth II had other ideas. After a bruising few months of legal tit-for-tat that saw a steady stream of sordid details dominate the news agenda, the Duke's mother finally had enough and demanded the matter was brought to a swift end. Ms Giuffre was given an out-of-court payout reported to be around £12 million. Stripped of his military titles, his charity affiliations and his pride, the Duke was cut adrift. The phrase 'innocent until proven guilty' had never seemed less apt. But in reality, the damage to the Duke's reputation had been inflicted a long, long time ago. From the moment Ms Giuffre told her story to a newspaper in 2011, it was hit by hammer blow after hammer blow. It was then that the world first saw the photograph of Prince Andrew with his arm wrapped around the waist of the teenage Ms Giuffre, who claimed to have been trafficked around the world by Epstein and his close friend, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. Ms Giuffre stopped short of alleging that she was forced to have sex with the Duke in London in March 2001. That would come later. But if there was any goodwill left for this errant royal, any shred of doubt about his accuser's version of events, that too appeared to evaporate following the Duke's disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019. More was to come. In January 2020, Geoffrey Berman, a US attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that the FBI and US prosecutors had asked to interview the Duke about Epstein but had received 'zero cooperation.' The Duke was said to be 'angry and bewildered' by the claims, insisting he had received no such request. Mr Berman returned to the theme two months later, asserting again that contrary to Prince Andrew's 'very public offer to cooperate' he had completely shut the door, raising the prospect that he could be subpoenaed to give evidence. Given the Duke's performance on Newsnight, no lawyer would have recommended he engage with the US authorities at that time. But with hindsight, given the FBI's declaration that it has no evidence warranting investigation, those closest to him will now be asking whether things could have been different. Legal team's litany of failings Similarly, Ms Giuffre's civil claim could have had a very different outcome. The Duke's close friends have criticised the litany of failings in the way his sex abuse case was managed by his own legal team and Buckingham Palace. The decision not to engage with Ms Giuffre's lawyers from the outset, to stonewall in a bizarre effort to avoid the inevitable service of legal papers, did him no favours. Ms Giuffre was left with no choice but to come at him publicly by filing a civil suit in which she claimed she was forced to have sex with the Duke on three separate occasions in 2001, when she was 17, in London, New York and on Epstein's private Caribbean island. Had that been managed differently, not least given the latest development, there may have been closure, if not exoneration. Ms Giuffre's death by suicide in April drew a line under any lingering hope of redemption. The Duke has already lost everything. Reduced to pottering around the expansive grounds of his Windsor mansion, riding his horses and playing golf, he can barely raise his head above the parapet. His brand has never been more toxic. For a senior member of the Royal family who so clearly loved his once lofty status, it has been a punishing lesson. He can barely dabble in even the most low-profile business venture these days without someone being spooked by his association. The most recent scandal, involving his business links to Yang Tengbo, an alleged Chinese spy, did nothing to move the dial. One thing is sure. Given the price he has already paid, the FBI's decision not to pursue an investigation will be perceived by his closest circle of friends and advisors as an exoneration. They will want it recognised in the form of a public apology. They may even believe that he should be reinstated to his former position within the Royal family. That will never happen. This latest, and perhaps final development, will mean that the whole Epstein show finally moves on. But it is far too late for the Duke, for whom moving on has never been such a distant prospect.
