Queen Elizabeth II and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Trooping The Colour in 2019. By: Ian Jones/MEGA
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor‘s strange drinking habit reportedly freaked out Queen Elizabeth II.
According to Robert Hardman‘s new book, Elizabeth II, the former Duke of York’s “childlike tendencies” deeply concerned his mother.
“He never drank alcohol and always stuck to room-temperature water,” the author wrote in a passage obtained by HELLO!.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Queen Elizabeth II during Royal Ascot in 2013. By: MEGA
“Fair enough, but I once asked him why and he answered like a child: ‘I tasted it once when I was a teenager and I didn’t like it.’ That’s why the Queen would always worry about him,” Hardman claimed.
“He sometimes went to nightclubs, but he did not drink, he did not take drugs,” the journalist pointed out.
In 2021, Andrew confirmed to The Evening Standard that he does not consume alcohol. “I haven’t got the head for it,” he reportedly said.
Despite not drinking, the 66-year-old still got himself into trouble. In 2025, Andrew was stripped of his titles and evicted from Royal Lodge over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaves a party in the 1980’s. By: Steve Finn/MEGA
In February 2026, the father of two was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office for allegedly giving information to the late criminal while he was the U.K.’s trade envoy.
Her Majesty passed away in 2022 and did not live to see Andrew’s public downfall. “His mother seemed to indulge his behavior, or at least remain in denial that it was happening at all. But there was also a lack of accountability in public life more widely,” royal expertIsabel Hardman wrote for iPaper.
Biographer Tina Brown claimed Elizabeth treated Andrew differently from the rest of her children. “He was her favorite,” the writer said during an appearance on The New York Times‘ “The Interview” podcast.
“She protected him, and mommy was his only client, essentially. She was the one who protected him, so unfortunately, it made him worse,” Brown added.
Queen Elizabeth II and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor depart the Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Prince Philip in 2022. By: MEGA
Due to the former leader of England’s favoritism toward her son, no one pressured her to banish Andrew.
“The Queen was there for 70 years, right? The hagiography around The Queen is intense, you know? I mean, you’re not allowed to ever criticize The Queen,” Brown noted.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
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