Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Reformation x Alexa Chung
    • 2026 Beauty Awards
    • Fall Movies
    • Being Black at Bravo
    • Slouchy Handbags
    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    Andrew Was Once "Considering Abdication" From Royal Family After Queen Elizabeth's Harsh Comment, Per Epstein Files

    A friend compared the former Duke of York to "a zoo animal" after his association with Jeffrey Epstein was revealed.

    Kristin Contino's avatar
    By Kristin Contino
    Published 4 February 2026 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Prince Andrew wearing a black coat and looking anxious
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor expressed his frustration about being kept out of the royal limelight in a series of emails that were released as part of the Epstein files over the weekend. The Daily Mail shared details of the message, which a friend of Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's sent to Jeffrey Epstein in 2011 after a photo of Andrew and the late sex offender walking in Central Park was published.

    The female friend wrote: "'A' is sad and frustrated. Considering abdication but he's like a zoo animal, no way now for him to thrive." The message continued by alleging that Queen Elizabeth told her favorite son to seek employment. "Queen said np royal list (sic), get a job," the email read.

    The woman also wrote about taking her laundry to Royal Lodge, adding, "I hope that wasn't rude. A said yes, but S wasn't amused. I needed yoga clothes."

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor standing next to Queen Elizabeth, wearing a scarf tied around her head

    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is pictured with Queen Elizabeth in 2017.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor standing along a wall at St George's Chapel

    Andrew is pictured at St George's Chapel on Easter morning 2024.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Speaking of Andrew and Sarah, Epstein replied and told the friend, "Careful - there is a Daily Mail rat, close to him, not her. He is unaware."

    The former Duke of York moved out of his longtime Windsor home, Royal Lodge, on February 2, as confirmed by multiple outlets. He's now staying at Wood Farm, the Sandringham retreat Prince Philip stayed in during his final years, until renovations are completed on his new home, Marsh Farm.

    You may like
    • Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor wearing a suit and tie and scowling Former Prince Andrew's Friend Says He Thinks His Name Will Be Cleared
    • LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York attend the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, 2025 in London, England. Katharine, Duchess of Kent was married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. She died on September 4 at the age of 92 at Kensington Palace surrounded by her family. Having converted to Catholicism in 1994, her funeral takes place at Westminster Cathedral and is the first Catholic funeral to be held for a member of the royal family in modern British history. Her Royal Highness will be laid to rest at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, Windsor. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images) Sarah Ferguson Is "Not Welcome" at Former Prince Andrew's New Home
    • Sarah Ferguson attending Ascot 2025 wearing a black and white polka dot dress with a wide-brim black hat, she has red hair Sarah Ferguson Moves Back to the U.K. After Epstein Files Scandal

    In other messages released last week, Ferguson wrote to Epstein and compared herself to Tudor wives who were beheaded for their mistakes.

    Per the media outlet, she wrote to the convicted sex offender: "Just as I always said, no woman has ever left the Royal Family with her head, and the [sic] cannot behead me, therefore they will discredit me. Totally to obliteration. I have no words."

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Explore More
    Queen Elizabeth II Prince Andrew sarah ferguson
    Kristin Contino
    Kristin Contino
    Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

    Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

    Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

    Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.

    Read more
    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor wearing a suit and tie and scowling
    Royals Former Prince Andrew's Friend Says He Thinks His Name Will Be Cleared
    By Kristin Contino
    LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York attend the funeral of Katharine, Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, 2025 in London, England. Katharine, Duchess of Kent was married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. She died on September 4 at the age of 92 at Kensington Palace surrounded by her family. Having converted to Catholicism in 1994, her funeral takes place at Westminster Cathedral and is the first Catholic funeral to be held for a member of the royal family in modern British history. Her Royal Highness will be laid to rest at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, Windsor. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
    Royals Sarah Ferguson Is "Not Welcome" at Former Prince Andrew's New Home
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    King Charles wears a red military uniform and looks concerned while standing on Buckingham Palace balcony with Queen Elizabeth II, who wears a baby blue outfit
    Royals Queen Elizabeth's Employee Revealed "Intimate Details"
    By Amy Mackelden
    Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana (1961 - 1997) and Prince Charles at Victoria Station, London, where they will welcome a state delegation from Nigeria, March 1989.
    Royals Why Queen Elizabeth "Was Furious" With Princess Diana
    By Amy Mackelden
     
     
    Latest in Royals
    Zara and Mia Tindall walking next to each other in trouser suits
    Royals Zara Tindall Reveals Daughter Mia's "Eye-Rolling" Pre-Teen Behavior
    Prince Harry looking up to the right and wearing a blue suit
    Royals Prince Harry Says He Had an "Adrenaline Crash" After Leaving Royal Role
     
     
    Princess Diana holding a young Prince Harry and pressing her face against him
    Royals Prince Harry Reveals the Unusual Beauty Trick He Used to "Unlock" the Feelings He'd Been Bottling Up About Princess Diana
    Prince William and Princess Kate standing in front of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Queen Elizabeth's funeral
    Royals A Source Close to Harry and Meghan Weighs In on “Nonsense” Claims Regarding Their Relationship With William and Kate
     
     
    Latest in News
    Zendaya's cuffed jeans channeled French girl denim in Paris after Fashion Week
    Celebrity Style Who Needs Fashion Week? Zendaya Is Still Styling Denim the French Girl Way
    A teenage girl wearing a patchwork blouse (Summer H. Howell as Carrie), in Prime Video's 'Carrie.'
    TV shows Mike Flanagan Says 'Carrie' Season 2 Could Place Her in a "Larger Universe"
     
     
    Kendall Jenner styled Fashion Month's pencil skirt trend at dinner with Hailey Bieber in L.A.
    Celebrity Style Yes, You Can Style Pencil Skirts Outside the Office—Just Ask Kendall Jenner
    Zara and Mia Tindall walking next to each other in trouser suits
    Royals Zara Tindall Reveals Daughter Mia's "Eye-Rolling" Pre-Teen Behavior
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.