Duke Andrew's public standing appears uncertain - and the gap in his royal title allegedly irks him, according to a published assertion.
The release of author Andrew Lownie's unauthorized book, "Entitled: The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York," has once again brought Prince Andrew into the spotlight. The book, which has already attracted considerable attention due to more lurid claims about the duke, sheds light on the challenges faced when seeking transparency within the Royal Family.
Lownie spent four years meticulously researching the book, submitting hundreds of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to government departments. However, his applications for information about Prince Andrew and his official work were all rejected. The reasons given included security reasons, cost, man hours, data protection, and Lownie's questions being too broad.
The implications of these denials for the Royal Family's accountability and transparency are significant. The refusal to disclose details about Prince Andrew’s official work and dealings contributes to public frustration and skepticism about the monarchy’s openness. It perpetuates a perception of secrecy around his conduct and royal role, especially amid the scandals involving accusations of sexual abuse and dubious business associations highlighted in recent biographies and media coverage.
This lack of transparency exacerbates Andrew’s unpopularity—he remains the most unpopular royal in public opinion polls, reflecting diminished trust and support. A poll found that only 5% of people have a favorable view of the Duke of York, and 87% of people have a negative view of him. Furthermore, the royals are less popular with a younger audience. Only 36% of 18 to 24-year-olds believe the monarchy is good for the country, with the generational difference underlined, with 81% of over-65s thinking Britain should continue to have a monarchy, but this falls with each age group to just 41% of 18 to 24s.
Lownie believes it's in the interest of the Windsors to be more open if they want to guarantee long-term backing from the public. He hopes his book may trigger more calls for greater transparency within the Royal Family. He states that he got no sense of any appetite to reintroduce Prince Andrew into public life during his research.
Prince Andrew's removal of his royal and military titles has reportedly stung him more than he has publicly shown. Stories about Prince Andrew continue to attract a huge amount of attention and regularly make him a difficult distraction for the Royal Family. Despite Buckingham Palace's silence on the book, the ongoing saga surrounding Prince Andrew serves as a reminder of the challenges faced in achieving greater transparency and accountability within the Royal Family.
Social-media platforms are abuzz with discussions about the unauthorized book "Entitled: The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York," which is further fueling the social scrutiny of celebrities like Prince Andrew. This book, delving into pop-culture and royal intrigue, has sparked debates on the entertainments section about the Royal Family's lack of transparency.
