TV presenter Lorraine Kelly has described the disgraced royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a 'horrible and ghastly' man after meeting him on multiple occasions. The 66-year-old host did not hold back when discussing the controversial figure during an appearance on Pete Wicks' Man Made podcast.
Lorraine Kelly's Candid Remarks
Kelly stated that she always gives people the benefit of the doubt but draws the line when they repeatedly show arrogance. 'A prime example of that obviously is Prince Andrew, who I had the misfortune to meet a few times, what a ghastly man, a horrible man. And I've always said that, even before all of this stuff,' she said, referring to his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
She added that she wonders about his upbringing and role models, saying, 'It's fascinating, isn't it, to think about that.'
Background on Prince Andrew
Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles by his brother King Charles last year, has faced intense scrutiny over his association with Epstein. In his 2019 Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, he expressed regret for maintaining contact with Epstein after his 2008 conviction but the interview was widely considered a public relations disaster. He subsequently stepped back from royal duties and was later stripped of his military titles and patronages.
Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He was arrested and later released under investigation on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has also been named in documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice relating to Epstein.
Previous Criticism from Kelly
This is not the first time Lorraine Kelly has criticised the Duke of York. Following his Newsnight interview, she described him as 'naïve or dumb' on her show, adding that the damage to his reputation was unprecedented. She later urged him to 'just shut it and go away' after reports of a possible return to royal life.
Recent Move to Marsh Farm
The former prince recently relocated to Marsh Farm after leaving the 30-room Royal Lodge in Windsor. According to Elliot Castle, CEO of We Buy Any Home, the cost of renovating the property could have reached a six-figure sum. He described the move as 'a managed family arrangement' with privacy and security as priorities, suggesting it is unlikely to be a short-term stop. Castle noted that renovating a rural property to such a standard, including interiors, structural updates, and high-end security, can quickly become expensive.
