Ken Wharfe, Princess Diana’s Former Bodyguard, Calls Prince Andrew “Toxic”

Ken Wharfe, Princess Diana’s former bodyguard, has publicly criticized Prince Andrew, labeling him “toxic” to the royal brand. Wharfe, who served as Diana’s personal protection officer from 1986 to 1993, recently shared his views on the “Suddenly Single” podcast (via the Daily Mail), stating his dealings with the former Duke of York left him with a negative impression.

“I did, on a few occasions, have dealings with him in a professional capacity,” Wharfe said. “And I found him to be one of the most arrogant individuals I’ve ever had the misfortune of meeting.”

Wharfe explained he had refrained from commenting on the situation until now, but the Epstein crisis prompted him to speak out. “Ever since the Epstein crisis that hit the Royal Family, I’ve taken a personal stand on this,” he stated. He believes Andrew’s association with the late Jeffrey Epstein continues to cast a shadow over the Royal Family, and that further revelations are yet to come.

“The whole issue of the Duke of York, as he was, and now Mountbatten-Windsor, is excruciatingly toxic, and continues to be,” Wharfe added.

Author Andrew Lownie also recently criticized Prince Andrew, telling People magazine that “status is everything to him—it’s his only sense of identity.” Lownie added that despite facing backlash, Andrew “thinks he’s anointed—that it’s deeply unfair people have turned on him.”

Prince Andrew was arrested on February 19, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following reports of emails allegedly showing him sharing confidential documents with Epstein . He has not been charged and previously denied any wrongdoing related to his association with Epstein.

Wharfe believes the situation is far from over, stating, “It’s a subject that, as yet, is not finished. It’s only just begun, and who knows where this might end up?”