Despite facing serious allegations and scrutiny, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's former girlfriends and close friends have shared a very different side to his character. Model Kim Deas, who briefly dated Andrew, summed him up in four words: 'Extremely sensitive and kind.'
Former Girlfriends Defend Andrew
In the new edition of Entitled, an investigation into Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, royal author Andrew Lownie interviewed Ian Hendry, a contemporary of Andrew's at Dartmouth Naval College. Hendry described a strong friendship, with Andrew becoming godfather to one of his children and consistently remembering birthdays with thoughtful gifts.
Kim Deas revealed: 'People think that because he's so good-looking he's not a nice person. But he's extremely sensitive and kind. He certainly doesn't live up to his nickname of Randy Andy at all. He's simply a good friend.'
Lady Victoria Hervey's Support
Another former romantic interest, Lady Victoria Hervey, was emphatic in her support. Following disclosures about Andrew's connection with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, she told LBC that Andrew is merely 'a guy' who 'needs to date.' She said: 'It's very hard for anyone to imagine being in his shoes. But he's a male, he's single, he needs to date. He's not going to be sitting in a monastery his whole life.'
Lady Victoria maintains that Andrew's association with Epstein was innocent: 'They'd known each other for a long time and he thought, OK, well, he knows beautiful women and there are so many other people out there and no one's talking about it.' She, who is referenced more than 20 times in the FBI's Epstein files, added: 'If you're not in those files, it would be an insult because it just means you were a bit of a loser.'
Conflicting Views from Navy Colleagues
Ian Hendry told Lownie that Andrew was 'born in the wrong age and would have been happier as an Edwardian gentleman. He puts on his royal hat to protect himself, that's his veneer.' However, other former Navy colleagues described a different side. A serviceman at the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall called Andrew 'a bit toffee-nosed' and recalled: 'He wants his own way and when he is around, you have to bow and scrape. Even when he drives round the base in his car, you have to salute that. I mean, fancy saluting a flipping car.'
Andrew's Exile and Allegations
Since his effective exile by King Charles III, numerous allegations have surfaced about Andrew's character, including accusations of arrogance, discourtesy, and intimidating practical jokes. He lost his titles following the Epstein scandal. Yet, as these defenders attest, not everyone holds the same opinion.
