Prince Andrew Accused of Bringing 40 Prostitutes to Bangkok Hotel During Official Visit, Historian Claims
Prince Andrew allegedly brought as many as 40 prostitutes to his five-star hotel in Bangkok over a four-day period during an official royal visit, according to royal historian Andrew Lownie.
Lownie claims the encounters took place while the Duke of York was attending celebrations for the King of Thailand’s birthday — a trip reportedly funded by British taxpayers. He alleges the visits were “enabled by diplomats and others” within Andrew’s official entourage.
At the time, Andrew was serving as the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, a role he held from 2001 to 2011. Lownie says that then–Prince Charles had warned former Prime Minister Tony Blair against the appointment, telling him Andrew would “only chase women and play golf.”
The claims are detailed in Lownie’s new book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, which examines Andrew’s life and controversies. According to the author, the prince frequently demanded to stay in luxury hotels rather than at British embassies, often extending official trips with up to two weeks of personal time.
Former Conservative MP and trade envoy Paul Scully told Times Radio that Andrew once booked nearly an entire floor of Bangkok’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel during a separate visit for the Thai king’s funeral — a stay that reportedly cost around £50,000.
The new allegations emerge as Buckingham Palace reportedly moves to strip Andrew of his remaining official titles and evict him from Royal Lodge, his longtime Windsor residence.
Lownie further claims that Andrew used his trade envoy role to advance private business interests, including helping an associate, David Rowlands, arrange meetings in China and secure a banking license in the Middle East.
“There remains a conspiracy of silence around Andrew’s dealings as Trade Envoy,” Lownie said. “Official files from his ten-year tenure have yet to be disclosed.”
Speaking to journalist Sarah Vine, Lownie criticised the lack of oversight during Andrew’s time in office, arguing that earlier scrutiny might have prevented later scandals.
“He’s brought disrepute on the whole institution,” Lownie said. “He should have been thrown under the bus long ago.”
