Prince Andrew’s legacy questioned again as charitable impact comes under review

Prince Andrew has been dealt another blow in his quiet bid to rehabilitate his public image, with a new report suggesting his former charity patronages actually performed better once he stepped away.

The disgraced royal, who stepped down from public life in 2022 following intense scrutiny over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, previously held patron roles with dozens of non-profits. But new data shows many of these organisations have thrived in his absence.

Sky News reported that the study — Prince Andrew’s Charity Patronages: Analysis of the Effects on the Charities — was conducted by Caroline Fiennes, founder of Giving Evidence, and Dr Clemens Jarnach, a political sociologist and data scientist.

It examined the revenue shifts in charities linked to the Duke of York both before and after his royal exit.

The results were not flattering for the prince.

“We find no evidence that Prince Andrew’s patronage of charities helped the charities in terms of revenue: there was no discernible decline in their revenue when his patronage ended,” the report concluded.

Of the charities analysed, half — including Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Fly Navy Heritage Trust — recorded a rise in revenue since Prince Andrew’s departure.

Overall, the research found no drop in charitable income attributable to Prince Andrew’s absence, which dented any lingering perception that his involvement brought tangible benefits.

The report is the latest obstacle in what some insiders believe is a slow-moving campaign to return Prince Andrew to public life following the death of Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse as part of the wider Epstein scandal — a claim Prince Andrew has denied and settled out of court without admission of guilt.

Before the scandal, the Duke was seen as a dependable royal, often commended for supporting his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, during her financial troubles. Ms Ferguson herself suffered a major fall from grace in 2010 after she was caught on camera allegedly offering access to Prince Andrew in exchange for cash.

The fallout saw Fergie excluded from Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding guest list the following year.

But fortunes have changed. While Prince Andrew remains on the outer, Ms Ferguson has been brought back into the royal fold, recently appearing in the royal box at Wimbledon — a symbolic nod to her reacceptance.

“She has now been praised for her quiet support of her ex-husband,” the report noted.

Royal biographer Prince Andrew Lownie believes the Duke is eager to get back to business.

“Andrew wants money,” he told The Daily Beast last week.

“He wants to enjoy a certain lifestyle, and he can do that with the contacts he has made over the years.”