Prince Andrew, 59, is the third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. At the time of his birth, he was second in line to the throne, surpassing his elder sister Princess Anne due to the laws of male succession which prevailed at that time. But now, the father of two is eighth in line to the throne, behind his brother Prince Charles and his two children, Prince William and Prince Harry, and Charles’ grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Express.co.uk speaks to a royal expert about how the Duke of York has brought great shame to Britain’s mightiest house?

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliam told Express.co.uk that Prince Andrew’s past romances with Koo Stark and Sarah Ferguson brought “great shame” to the Royal Family.

He said: “It remains a great shame that his romance with Koo Stark foundered and that his choice of Sarah Ferguson was so disastrous.

“Though they remain very close, she was totally irresponsible both as a royal and also has often been after their divorce.”

Koo Stark met Prince Andrew in February 1981, aged 24, but the pair were close for around two years before and after his active service in the Falklands War.

According to Lady Colin Campbell, Andrew was in love with Ms Stark, and the Queen was “much taken with the elegant, intelligent, and discreet Koo”.

However, the couple broke up in 1983 due to pressure from the press, paparazzi, and palace.

In 1988 Ms Stark told World Weekly News magazine: “The amount of attention and pressure on me became unbearable. It was a nightmare.”

Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson in July 1986, after which the pair went on to have two daughters: Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The couple appeared to have a happy marriage during the late 1980s, but announced in 1992 that they planned to separate amicably.

Their marriage ended in divorce in May 1996, but the couple have remained close ever since.

However, the friendly relationship and regard for Fergie was reportedly not shared by Prince Philip, who is thought to despise his former daughter-in-law, ever since her life became a hot topic in the newspapers following her separation and divorce from Andrew.

According to sources, Fergie was in fact Philip’s favourite daughter-in-law before the infidelity scandals became tabloid press fodder, but after photos were published showing Fergie having her toes sucked by American businessman John Bryan, Philip apparently lost all love for her.

Ever since that time, there has been a rift between the 98-year-old Prince Philip and Fergie.

Mr Fitzwilliam told Express.co.uk: “I don’t think the rift between Prince Philip and Sarah Ferguson will ever heal.

“He recognises the damage she did when she was a member of the royal family and the way she has behaved in subsequent years has done nothing to give him any confidence in her judgement.

“He naturally attended Eugenie’s wedding last year but those who thought this indicated any feelings of warmth towards Sarah were much mistaken.”

But despite these “shameful” romantic encounters, the Queen has remained steadfastly loyal to her son.

Mr Fitzwilliam said: “Andrew was fortunate in that the Queen was able to spend much more time with him than with her older children.

“She was able to relax much more with him but there is little doubt that he was indulged as a child, being a “spare” but also as second in line to the throne he reportedly was too self-important.

“There is no doubt that she was proud of his service as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands, continuing the royal military tradition and he seems to have been most at ease in the navy.”

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