The fallout from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein remains one of the most damaging crises the modern monarchy has faced. From that disastrous Newsnight interview (where he claimed he physically cannot sweat and that he was in a Pizza Express on the night he was accused of sleeping with a trafficked teenager) to the stripping of his military titles and royal patronages, the saga has raised serious questions about accountability, privilege and transparency within the institution.

But while the scale of reputational damage may feel unprecedented, scandal plaguing the British royal family is actually nothing new – something fans of The Crown will likely more than be aware of.

For more than a century, the House of Windsor has weathered abdications, affairs, leaked phone calls, explosive interviews and very public marital breakdowns. Each controversy has tested public support and forced the Firm to adapt in order to survive.

From constitutional crises to tabloid frenzies, here are 13 of the biggest royal scandals that shook the monarchy long before Andrew’s latest fall from grace.

1. King Edward VIII’s abdication (1936)

In 1936, King Edward VIII gave up the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée, triggering a constitutional crisis that stunned Britain and the Commonwealth. As Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Edward was forbidden from marrying a twice-divorced woman whose former husbands were still alive.

The King’s abdication speech – in which he told the nation he could no longer in good faith carry out his duties “without the help and support of the woman I love” – marked the only voluntary abdication by a British monarch. The decision reshaped royal succession and altered the monarchy’s future permanently, as Edward’s brother, King George VI, was ushered in, which ultimately led to his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, ruling as the country’s longest-serving monarch of all time.

King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson

2. Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend (1950s)

Another scandal that warranted its own storyline in The Crown is that of Princess Margaret’s relationship with RAF Group Captain Peter Townsend, which caused a political and moral dilemma in the 1950s. Townsend was divorced, and under Church of England rules at the time, remarriage was not permitted if a former spouse was living.

As Queen Elizabeth’s sister, Margaret required government approval to marry. The romance divided public opinion: some saw it as a modern love story thwarted by outdated rules; others viewed royal duty as paramount. Ultimately, Margaret announced she would not marry Townsend, citing her responsibilities to the crown instead.

3. Princess Anne kidnap attempt (1974)

In March 1974, Princess Anne survived a dramatic kidnapping attempt in central London. A gunman ambushed her car on The Mall, shooting and injuring several people, including her bodyguard and chauffeur, before attempting to abduct her.

Anne reportedly responded by telling the attacker it was “not bloody likely” she would leave the vehicle. The incident shocked the nation and led to significant changes in royal security arrangements.

Princess Anne pictured months after the kidnapping attempt

4. The Annus Horribilis (1992)

The Queen described 1992 as her “annus horribilis” in a speech which saw her visibly moved – and for good reason. Within the space of mere months, three of her four children saw their marriages collapse. Prince Charles and Princess Diana separated, the then-Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson announced their split, and Princess Anne divorced Mark Phillips. As if the familial turmoil were not enough, a devastating fire tore through Windsor Castle in November.

Public criticism mounted over who should pay for repairs, intensifying debates about royal finances and privilege.

Queen Elizabeth II during her speech

5. Squidgygate (1992)

Also in 1992, transcripts of an intimate phone call between Princess Diana and her friend James Gilbey were published in the press. In the recorded conversation, Gilbey repeatedly referred to Diana as ‘Squidgy’, giving the scandal its nickname. At a time when public sympathy for Diana was growing, the tapes exposed the extent of media intrusion into private royal lives.

The episode intensified scrutiny on the Waleses and marked a shift towards increasingly invasive tabloid tactics that would define royal coverage throughout the 1990s.

6. Tampongate (1993)

If you think Squidgygate was awkward, sadly Tampongate was just around the corner… In 1993, a leaked recording of a private phone call between a then-Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles heard the pair talking about, ahem, how much they enjoy one another’s company (while Charles was still married to Princess Diana).

During the call, Charles makes a joke about being a tampon in order to remain close to a specific area of Camilla’s anatomy – and when it hit headlines, the public were less than forgiving.

7. The divorce of Charles and Diana (1992–1996)

The official separation announcement in 1992 followed years of rumours about infidelity on both sides. Charles later admitted to adultery during a televised interview, while Diana presented her own account in a bombshell appearance on Panorama. Their divorce was finalised in 1996, but the public fallout continued. Diana’s immense popularity contrasted sharply with declining support for Charles.

A then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana looking distant

8. Princess Diana’s Panorama interview (1995)

In November 1995, Diana sat down with Martin Bashir for a BBC Panorama interview watched by more than 20 million people in the UK. Her comment that “there were three of us in this marriage” became instantly iconic. She also spoke openly about bulimia, self-harm and her struggles within the royal family. The interview was unprecedented in its candour and further destabilised the monarchy.

Decades later, an independent inquiry found Bashir had used deceitful methods to secure the interview, prompting formal apologies from the BBC and reigniting debate about media ethics and Diana’s treatment. Both of her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, have condemned Bashir.

Harry told press, “It is my firm view that this Panorama programme holds no legitimacy and should never be aired again. It effectively established a false narrative which, for over a quarter of a century, has been commercialised by the BBC and others.”

While William added, “Our mother was an incredible woman who dedicated her life to service. She was resilient, brave, and unquestionably honest. The ripple effect of a culture of exploitation and unethical practices ultimately took her life.”

9. Sarah Ferguson’s ‘toe-sucking’ photos (1992)

Shortly after separating from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Sarah Ferguson was photographed topless on holiday, while American businessman John Bryan appeared to kiss and/or suck on her toes. The images were splashed across tabloids worldwide. Cue: widespread embarrassment for the royals.

Sarah Ferguson pictured in 1992

10. Prince Harry’s Nazi Costume (2005)

In 2005, photographs emerged of Prince Harry wearing a Nazi uniform to a fancy-dress party themed ‘Colonials and Natives’. The images prompted immediate backlash, particularly from Jewish organisations and Holocaust survivors. Clarence House issued a public apology on Harry’s behalf.

Although the Prince did later rebuild his image through military service and charitable work, the incident remains a controversial misstep from his early years.

11. Meghan and Harry are outta here (2020)

In January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they would step back as senior working royals and pursue financial independence. The move, widely dubbed ‘Megxit’ by the tabloids, blindsided the Palace and triggered complex negotiations about titles, security and funding.

The couple relocated to California and later gave a series of high-profile interviews discussing their experiences within the institution, referencing comments made about race, a lack of mental health support and Meghan’s cruel treatment by the media.

12. Prince Harry’s memoir Spare (2023)

Published in 2023, Spare offered Harry’s most detailed account yet of life inside the monarchy. The memoir included claims of a physical altercation with Prince William, resentment over hierarchy, and frustration at media briefings. Its frank tone broke longstanding royal convention around discretion. While the book became a commercial success, it intensified scrutiny of family relationships and deepened speculation about reconciliation. For the monarchy, it reinforced the challenge of maintaining unity under unprecedented transparency — and proved that royal scandal in the digital age travels faster, and further, than ever before.

13. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Jeffrey Epstein’s connection (2019-present)

The former Prince Andrew’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein became a full-scale crisis for the monarchy in 2019. Questions intensified after a photograph emerged of Andrew with Virginia Giuffre, who alleged she had been trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with the Duke when she was 17 – claims Andrew has consistently denied.

His attempt to address the controversy in a BBC Newsnight interview was widely criticised as ill-judged and lacking empathy. Within days, he stepped back from public duties. In 2022, he reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in a US civil case, without admitting liability. The Queen stripped him of his military titles and royal patronages, and he no longer uses the style ‘His Royal Highness’ in any official capacity.

More recently as the world reels from the drop of millions of partially-redacted files relating to Jeffrey Epstein, the Prime Minister and US government officials have called on Andrew to give evidence.

 Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK’s multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She’s grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.