Stay Classy

Andrew O’Hagan’s essay is a brutal exposé of Prince Andrew and his ex‑wife Sarah Ferguson, tracing a long pattern of entitlement, grifting, and ethically dubious behavior that began decades before Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein. He portrays them as habitually exploiting their royal status to chase freebies, money, and influence in shady settings around the world. Seen together in this one piece, their choices reveal a shocking, sustained culture of decadence and impunity—visible long before any formal scandal erupted.

Thanks to multiple investigations, several court cases and Lownie’s excellent book, their downfall has emerged as an emblematic story of our age. In September 2001, Andrew was given a role as UK special representative for international trade and investment. ‘The appointment came with the support of the queen,’ Lownie writes, ‘and the endorsement of the former trade secretary Peter Mandelson.’ Andrew was a walking category error, perceiving no difference between business and pleasure, between what was good for the country and what was excellent for him, conducting a campaign of international larceny masquerading as public service. Charles thought the job as envoy was a disaster waiting to happen: Andrew was almost certain to disgrace himself in a dramatic way.