Royal expert Andrew Lownie argues that the Palace must stop burying the ‘Andrew files’ in the depths of the Royal Archive.

King Charles III and Andrew Mountbatten Windsor walk behind Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Arthur Edwards)

The Royal Family is currently facing calls for transparency that threaten the very foundation of the monarchy, according to a scathing new assessment by Andrew Lownie. In his latest report, the veteran author argues that the institution’s long-standing culture of secrecy — particularly regarding the ‘Andrew files’ and the financial dealings of the York family — is no longer sustainable in the face of mounting public fury. For Lownie, the monarchy’s cycle of ‘silence and inaction’ has become a trap. Their refusal to speak on the matter has rendered every public engagement into ‘consistent liability’ that is actively damaging the brand.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and King Charles attend the Order of the Garter Service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. (Image Source: Getty Images | Peter Nicholls – WPA Pool)

From Prince William’s high-stakes diplomatic trip to Saudi Arabia to a routine stop at Charing Cross Hospital with Princess Catherine, the narrative is stuck. Every public move of the royals remains overshadowed by the Andrew-Epstein scandal and the growing stench of an institutional cover-up. For Lownie, the point is pretty clear. To break the pattern, he argued, the Palace needs to change its ‘business as usual’ approach and needs to adopt the same transparency standards any other global institution would be forced to meet in 2026. “The Royal Family needs to behave as any modern institution would after a scandal of such proportions,” he highlighted on his Substack.

For Lownie, there is no path forward without opening the vaults. He argued that the Palace must follow the government’s lead and stop burying the ‘Andrew files’ in the depths of the Royal Archive. “The Palace must also promise to echo the government and release the Andrew files from the pitch black abyss of the Royal Archive,” he opined, noting that the failure to do so will demonstrate “how little has changed” within the Firm. With the public’s patience wearing thin, the author is clear that half-measures won’t cut it, stating, “Only if all of this is done with the utmost transparency will the Royal Family be able to rebuild the shattered trust of the public and finally move on from this crisis.”
King Charles, Princess Beatrice of York, and Princess Eugenie of York attend day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse. (Image Source: Getty Images | Chris Jackson)

Other than the need for more transparency, Lownie also highlighted a ‘delusional’ approach to internal discipline, particularly regarding Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. He argued that symbolic slaps on the wrist — like the alleged ban on the York sisters from the Royal Ascot — are ‘derisory and offensive’ given the seriousness of the allegations involving a reported £100,000 (roughly $134,000) payment via their father’s business contacts. “This isn’t Downton Abbey…a ban from Ascot might have been the ultimate snub in decades past,” he noted. Lownie also called for a full internal investigation with the caveat that any evidence of criminality must be handed over to the police.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Prince William attend Katharine, Duchess of Kent’s Requiem Mass service at Westminster Cathedral. (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)

Secrecy is the Royal Family’s default setting — a ‘family tradition’, Lownie says, which he opines is a value shared by both King Charles and William alike. But the author warns that if they continue to gate-keep information and protect the York sisters from the same standards as everyone else, then they’re only digging a deeper hole for the future of the Crown.