Duke of York friends say talk of ‘explosive tell-all’ memoir is fiction
FRIENDS of the Duke of York have insisted he has no intention of writing an autobiography amid speculation the book threat is being used as leverage with the King.
The Duke is reportedly in talks to write an “explosive tell-all” memoir that would rival his nephew the Duke of Sussex’s best-selling book Spare, which caused deep embarrassment.
Friends of the Duke of York said yesterday that claims he is touting for a book deal are categorically false. “It’s not true,” said a friend.
Reports in the Mail On Sunday and the Sun On Sunday claimed the Duke was keen to publish his memoirs as part of an ongoing attempt to restore his reputation.
The Duke’s close association with Jeffrey Epstein, the billionaire financier and convicted paedophile who killed himself in jail while awaiting trial, led to him being ostracised by the Royal family, stripped of his patronages and removed from public duties.
The Sunday newspapers claimed that the Duke has been in discussions with US publishers and ghostwriters about an autobiography.
One source told Mail On Sunday: “Andrew was the original spare and there’s plenty of material. Writing a book would give him the opportunity to fully explain his association with Epstein and the resulting fall-out.”
The Duke was forced to settle a multimillion pound legal action after he was sued by Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Epstein’s sex trafficking. She had
‘Writing a book would give him the opportunity to fully explain his association with Epstein’
accused the Duke of sexually abusing and raping her three times after being loaned to him by Epstein. The allegations are vehemently denied by the Duke.
There has been mounting speculation that the Duke could be forced out of his home at Royal Lodge in the Windsor grounds following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The King is planning to cut his annual allowance and the Duke does not have the funds to pay for the upkeep of the mansion and its estate.
One source suggested any threat of a book deal could be used to leverage more money out of the King, allowing him to remain in the Royal Lodge.
A source said: “Andrew has told a publisher he is considering writing a book because he is screwed for cash. It is an insight into the desperation of his situation.” The source added: “I doubt the book will ever get written.”
A separate source said the proposal for the autobiography was a “kite flying exercise … to see if anybody offers him a big publishing deal”.
It is unclear what kind of advance the Duke could secure. While Prince Harry has made millions from Spare, major publishing houses may well be reluctant to be associated with the Duke.
Buckingham Palace declined comment.