Royal Bodyguard’s Scathing Assessment of Prince Andrew and the Royal Family’s Current Turmoil
Ken Wharfe, a former personal protection officer to the late Princess Diana, has broken his silence on the ongoing scandals plaguing the Royal Family, delivering a particularly harsh critique of Prince Andrew. Wharfe, who served as Diana’s bodyguard from 1988 to 1993, described the disgraced Duke of York, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as “one of the most arrogant individuals I’ve ever had the misfortune of meeting.”
The SAS-trained Scotland Yard inspector found Andrew’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to be “excruciatingly toxic.” Speaking on the “Suddenly Single” podcast, Wharfe revealed his professional dealings with Andrew on several occasions, during which he formed this unflattering opinion.
Prince Andrew, 66, was arrested on February 19th, his birthday, at Wood Farm on the King’s Sandringham estate. The arrest, on suspicion of misconduct in public office, saw him detained for 11 hours before being released under investigation by Thames Valley Police. He has not been charged and has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
This arrest followed the US Department of Justice’s release of millions of Epstein-related files in January. These documents reportedly contained emails suggesting Andrew, while serving as Britain’s trade envoy, forwarded confidential reports from his visits to Southeast Asia to the convicted sex offender. King Charles III responded to the unfolding crisis with a concise public statement: “Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.”
Andrew’s fall from grace has been swift and comprehensive. By October 2025, he had been stripped of all royal titles. He voluntarily relinquished the Duke of York title, and King Charles III subsequently removed his ‘Prince’ designation and ‘His Royal Highness’ style through Letters Patent. Furthermore, he lost his prestigious Order of the Garter and Royal Victorian Order. His residence at Royal Lodge, where he had lived for over two decades, has also been impacted, and his £1 million annual allowance has been revoked. He is now officially known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Wharfe stated on the podcast that he had intentionally avoided commenting on the situation until now. He expressed that the entire affair surrounding the former Duke of York and his connection to Epstein, which has now ensnared his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, has been “excruciatingly toxic” and continues to be a daily news item.
The Epstein files also appear to contain emails where Sarah Ferguson allegedly asked Epstein for £20,000 in 2009 to cover her rent, citing threats from her landlord to go to the press. Ferguson, who divorced Andrew in 1996 but continued to reside with him at Royal Lodge until recently, has also denied any wrongdoing. Wharfe believes the situation is far from over, stating, “It’s only just begun, and who knows where this might end up?”
Wharfe’s tenure as a royal bodyguard placed him at the centre of the Royal Family during some of its most challenging periods. He initially served as the personal protection officer for the young Princes William and Harry from 1986, with the boys affectionately calling him ‘Uncle Ken.’ His subsequent appointment as Diana’s personal protection officer saw him spend nearly six years by her side, developing a close friendship and becoming a confidant who, in his own words, shared her “innermost secrets.” He departed from his post in 1993 and retired from the Metropolitan Police in 2002 after 35 years of service, later receiving an honour from the late Queen Elizabeth II. He has since authored two successful books detailing his experiences protecting Diana.
The former bodyguard also commented on the compounding difficulties faced by King Charles III, who is simultaneously dealing with his brother’s disgrace and his younger son, Prince Harry, 41, who has chosen a life of self-imposed exile in the United States. Wharfe noted that the King is navigating a “very difficult period of life trying to sort out his younger brother’s problems.” He added that while William and Harry were integral to the King’s future vision for the monarchy, the departure of Harry, whom Wharfe believes was a significant figure in “restructuring the monarchy for the future,” has left a void.
Wharfe was candid about Prince Harry’s marriage to Meghan Markle and what he perceives as its failure to meet its initial promise. He recalled the global excitement surrounding their union, which he believed had the potential to “move and change the Royal Family forever.” He highlighted the significance of a prince marrying a woman of mixed heritage, an American, and a divorcee – a union that would have been unthinkable just a decade or two prior.
However, Wharfe suggested the marriage faltered because, in his opinion, “Meghan never really understood it.” He also believes Harry may not have fully anticipated the subsequent decision to relocate to America and live a life of “exile, almost.” Wharfe touched upon Harry’s ongoing legal efforts to restore his security when visiting the UK, acknowledging a shift in global climate that might lead to the government and Metropolitan Police providing him with security, something he has reportedly always desired.
Despite living in Montecito, California, with Meghan and their two children, Wharfe believes Harry is not truly settled. He posited that the initial allure of Montecito and the celebrity lifestyle has waned, leaving Harry somewhat isolated.
The former royal bodyguard hinted that Harry might still have a role to play within the Royal Family and that King Charles may be open to this, but only if Harry’s current estrangement from the family is resolved. “Does he have a role to play in the future of the monarchy?” Wharfe mused. “I think he does – quite how he does that, I don’t think he even knows yet.”
