Prince Andrew’s life has taken a dramatic turn. Stripped of his royal titles last week, the embattled prince stepped away from his public roles amid renewed allegations tied to his past association with Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex trafficker.

In a statement, Andrew explained that the accusations were overshadowing the Royal Family’s work, prompting him to relinquish his titles and honors. “I vigorously deny the accusations,” he insisted, emphasizing his decision was made in consultation with King Charles and his family, putting his duty to them first.

Prince Andrew. Credit: Getty Images

The move came just days before the release of a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Epstein’s trafficking network who tragically took her own life earlier this year. While Andrew’s public statement aimed to project resolve, whispers from those who’ve seen him behind closed doors paint a far less flattering picture.

In Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, biographer Andrew Lownie shares accounts from insiders who’ve witnessed the prince’s private behavior. One anonymous source, who worked closely with Andrew, described him as abrasive and commanding, treating staff more like subordinates than people. “He’d snap orders like, ‘I want this done now’ or ‘Do it!’—it was his go-to phrase,” the insider recalled.

They recounted a particularly jarring moment when Andrew, incensed by someone using the wrong title for the Queen Mother, lashed out, calling them a “f*cking imbecile.” The source didn’t mince words: “I don’t think he was a particularly nice person.”

Another incident stood out. At Clarence House, Andrew reportedly pointed at an object and barked at a staff member, “You, wrap that!” The insider admitted to a fleeting urge to confront him, stung by his dismissive tone. “I just thought, you rude, ignorant sod,” they said, describing the moment with raw frustration.

Andrew’s behavior wasn’t confined to private settings. At social gatherings, his demeanor could be just as grating. A journalist who encountered him at a party described him as “a bull in a china shop,” prone to awkward, inappropriate jokes. “He’s the most out-of-touch royal I’ve ever met,” they said, noting a sense of entitlement that seemed to echo a belief in the “Divine Right of Kings.”

These stories sketch a portrait of a man at odds with the polished image royalty often strives for. Behind the palace walls, Andrew’s sharp edges and imperious attitude left lasting impressions on those around him—impressions that linger as he steps further from the public eye.