S Poddar
Prince Andrew has increasingly turned his attention to his family life, avoiding the public eye after relinquishing royal duties five years ago. His career is, according to royal experts, “beyond repair,” and the life of the Duke of York has become more private and focused on personal relationships instead of public ones.
Since leaving public life due to the scandal surrounding him, Andrew appears in public very rarely. He has passed his time in the large house with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and their two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. The public domains lack opportunities for the Duke and have much to do with his retreat from public view, given that he has also been involved in a number of high-profile scandals.
One such controversy was his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which badly damaged his reputation and made him a controversial figure in both the royal and public circles. Thus Andrew has been increasingly isolated from the world of high-profile events and professional ventures.
According to PR expert Mark Borkowski, the current situation of Andrew is a direct result of a reputation that no longer fits the expectations of the public or the professional world. “There’s no way that anyone would hire him or collaborate with him on any project. No one wants to be associated with him anymore,” Borkowski said. The expert further emphasized that Andrew’s situation is quite unique in terms of the lack of opportunities available to him, despite his past royal status.
In the documentary “Prince Andrew: Where Did All The Money Go?”, a royal commentator pointed out that there were times when Andrew was hardly seen in public anymore. “He doesn’t get out and about at any kind of public event, he doesn’t pop into London like he used to a few years ago,” the commentator said, showing how drastically his life had changed ever since he left his position.
For the personal side of the prince’s life, Carole Malone, journalist, wrote: “His life is golf and horses and Sarah (Ferguson) and their kids (Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie), and thank God he has them because I think he’d have very little else.” For such a strong personality as Andrew, relationships with his former wife and daughters represent what is in the center of his life today.
Perhaps to some, this move is a desperate or lost case, but these family ties would be his anchor to Andrew. His professional career is in shambles, and public life is no longer a choice for him. It seems that personal relationships keep him grounded.
Despite the differences that still surround his figure, the one constant in Andrew’s life is his family. He remains bonded with Sarah Ferguson, his ex-wife, as if one of the few constants of his world. The history of their relationship is long, notwithstanding some of its peculiarities, which have not prevented them from following an amicable and supportive relationship over the years. Shared experiences- raising their daughters-mostly paved the way for Andrew to take off.
For Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, their father’s quiet lifestyle may seem unusual given their royal status, but it also allows them to have a more private, family-focused existence away from the prying eyes of the media. The Duke of York’s relationship with his daughters, who have established their own careers and families, is now one of the most significant aspects of his life.
As a result, his role within the royal family continues, but appears largely symbolic rather than active, and his future seems anything but certain. Obviously, the route back to any major public position is unlikely, as the scandals he has dealt with are very heavy indeed. But perhaps, in concentrating on his family, this peace has been located away from the storm that defines public life. For Andrew, at least for now, the people who matter most are those closest to him, providing him with the support and companionship that has become essential to his life.
