Royal author Andrew Lownie has claimed that the crisis surrounding Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, is 'bigger and more serious' than the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936. Speaking at the Oxford Literary Festival, Lownie argued that Andrew's involvement with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has caused 'greater public anger' and a 'deeper royal crisis' than Edward's decision to abdicate the throne to marry Wallis Simpson.
Andrew has been banished to Norfolk after details of his relationship with Epstein emerged in recently released US Department of Justice documents. He has lost his titles and honours and was forced to give up the lease on his Norfolk home, Royal Lodge. Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Lownie suggested that some members of the Royal Family may have known about Andrew's dealings long before they became public. He claimed that MI6 officers had warned royal private secretaries about Andrew being caught with $5 million in a suitcase in Kazakhstan, but were dismissed.
Andrew was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office and was held for 11 hours before being released under investigation. The arrest followed the release of files suggesting he may have shared confidential information with Epstein during his time as the UK's trade envoy.
In contrast, Edward VIII's abdication was described by Lownie as a 'three-day wonder' that did not engage the public with full details at the time. Edward abdicated after 325 days as monarch to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee, causing a constitutional crisis.
