Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s controversial email to convicted multimillionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein did more than seal his public downfall, it exposed the former prince’s deep-seated obsession with his royal status. In the 2011 message, where Andrew reaffirmed his support for the disgraced financier, he conspicuously signed off with: “A, HRH The Duke of York, KG.”

This insistence on royal formality, even in casual contexts, was not an isolated occurrence. Following his 1996 divorce from Sarah Ferguson, the former Duke of York was introduced by Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, to Australian PR executive Emma Gibbs. While Andrew was reportedly informal and friendly with “Gibbsy,” he maintained an unmistakably regal attitude toward her landlady. The owner of the upscale Chelsea home, who had rented one of her four bedrooms to Gibbs, was reportedly “very narked off” after being told she must curtsy to the then-prince during his visits, according to The Mirror.

The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden also reported on the incident, describing the landlady as a “glamorous continental woman” who was “gobsmacked” to learn she was expected to show deference to her guest. A source said, “She was very narked off about the fact that she was being told to curtsy in her own home. Gibbsy was her lodger. It was absolutely ludicrous, frankly. It really shows that he thought he was above the law.”

Even after being stripped of his royal titles by his brother, King Charles, reports suggest Andrew continues to enforce royal protocol within his residence, Royal Lodge. Celebrity journalist Rob Shuter quoted a member of Andrew’s staff as saying, “Nothing has changed inside Royal Lodge, the butler still says ‘Your Royal Highness,’ and the staff still bow. Andrew’s made it clear that palace rules don’t apply inside his walls.”

The insider further revealed that Andrew continues to use his title privately, insisting, “It’s his birthright, not something the King can erase.”

Meanwhile, Emma Gibbs, now known by her married name, Emma Farah, has maintained some royal connections despite her brief romance with the disgraced prince. During her nearly 18-year career with luxury florist Rob Van Helden, she helped design the breathtaking jasmine, sweet pea, rose, and myrtle arch for Princess Beatrice’s 2020 wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The couple famously walked beneath the floral masterpiece as they exited the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor.

Reflecting on the occasion in a conversation with candlemaker Victoria Cator, Farah expressed her pride: “Having worked for Rob Van Helden for nearly 18 years, I have seen some incredible events produced all around the world. But my most favourite wedding arch is the one we created for HRH Princess Beatrice of York and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.”