Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York

Andrew Lownie

Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York

Andrew Lownie
53 pages1-hour read
Nonfiction
Biography
Adult
Published in 2026

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Prince Andrew is the second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Raised in Buckingham Palace with few boundaries, he develops an early sense of entitlement and a reputation for exuberance and obstinacy. He serves as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot, attempting to balance his military career with the immense privileges and public expectations of his royal status.

Key Relationships

Son of Prince Philip

Brother of Prince Charles

Father of Princess Beatrice

Father of Princess Eugenie

Friend of Jeffrey Epstein

Employer of Amanda Thirsk

Sarah Ferguson is a woman with deep aristocratic connections who works in public relations and art dealing. Known for her infectious personality and spontaneous nature, she captures public attention with her informal demeanor. She struggles with deep-seated insecurity and finds the rigid protocols of court life suffocating after marrying into the royal family.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Susan Barrantes

Daughter of Ronald Ferguson

Mother of Princess Beatrice

Mother of Princess Eugenie

Former Romantic Partner of Paddy McNally

Friend of Princess Diana

Romantic Interest of Steve Wyatt

Jeffrey Epstein is a deeply connected American financier who cultivates an image of immense wealth and philanthropy. He uses his lavish properties, including a private Caribbean island and a New York townhouse, to entertain politicians, royalty, and celebrities. He leverages these elite social ties to consolidate his own influence and access to power.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Ghislaine Maxwell

Business Associate of David Stern

Ghislaine Maxwell is a former British socialite and the daughter of a media tycoon. As a key figure in Jeffrey Epstein's inner circle, she acts as a social gatekeeper, using her extensive aristocratic connections to introduce him to powerful figures. She seamlessly moves between high-society events and royal residences.

Key Relationships

Virginia Roberts/Giuffre is a young woman drawn into the orbit of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Operating within the elite and intimidating world of international wealth, she attends high-society gatherings and nightclubs alongside prominent public figures, establishing connections that heavily impact her young life.

Key Relationships

Associate of Jeffrey Epstein

Associate of Ghislaine Maxwell

Queen Elizabeth II is the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom and the head of the royal family. She balances her immense institutional responsibilities with her role as a protective mother. She demonstrates deep personal affection for Prince Andrew, providing him with vast resources and shielding him from ordinary consequences.

Key Relationships

Wife of Prince Philip

Mother of Prince Charles

Supporting Characters

Prince Philip is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II and a senior figure in the royal family. He holds strong patriarchal expectations for his children, admiring traditional masculine traits. He attempts to enforce discipline and maintain the dignity of the royal household amidst family turbulence.

Key Relationships

Father of Prince Charles

Prince Charles is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and the heir to the British throne. He represents the traditional expectations of the royal family and often stands in contrast to his younger brother's more unruly behavior.

Key Relationships

Son of Prince Philip

Husband of Princess Diana

Princess Diana is a highly visible member of the royal family who operates within the strictures of court life. She plays a matchmaking role by encouraging the relationship between Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, hoping to bring a friend into the royal fold.

Key Relationships

Wife of Prince Charles

Susan Barrantes is an aristocratic woman who disrupts her family's life when she leaves them for an Argentine polo player. Her departure has a profound and lasting psychological impact on her daughter's sense of security.

Key Relationships

Former Wife of Ronald Ferguson

Romantic Partner of Hector Barrantes

Ronald Ferguson is a military man and polo-playing Life Guards officer embedded in royal social circles. He maintains an active public life that occasionally brings unwanted scrutiny to his family.

Key Relationships

Former Husband of Susan Barrantes

Hector Barrantes is an Argentine polo player who captures the affections of Susan Barrantes during a family holiday in Corfu, leading to a major rupture in the Ferguson household.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Susan Barrantes

Paddy McNally is a wealthy, older figure in the racing world. He maintains a volatile romantic relationship with a young Sarah Ferguson, openly undermining her confidence while she seeks his commitment.

Key Relationships

Former Romantic Partner of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York

Princess Beatrice is the first daughter born to the Duke and Duchess of York. She grows up in the highly scrutinized environment of the royal family.

Key Relationships

Sister of Princess Eugenie

Princess Eugenie is the youngest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, raised within the complex and very public dynamics of her parents' household.

Key Relationships

Sister of Princess Beatrice

Steve Wyatt is a wealthy American socialite who provides Sarah Ferguson with attention and an escape from her isolating royal life.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York

Friend of John Bryan

John Bryan is a self-promoting financial adviser and entrepreneur from Texas who enters Sarah Ferguson's social circle, offering her business guidance and personal attention.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York

Friend of Steve Wyatt

Timur Kulibayev is a wealthy Kazakh businessman with close ties to his country's autocratic leadership. He engages in high-value real estate transactions with British royalty.

Key Relationships

Business Associate of Prince Andrew, Duke of York

Business Associate of Goga Ashkenazi

Goga Ashkenazi is a well-connected Kazakh businesswoman who facilitates lucrative international deals. She leverages her personal and professional connections to bridge the gap between foreign oligarchs and the British establishment.

Key Relationships

Business Associate of Timur Kulibayev

Business Contact of Prince Andrew, Duke of York

Amanda Thirsk serves as a key aide and private secretary to the Duke of York, managing his official schedule and advising him on public relations matters.

Key Relationships

Emily Maitlis is a prominent British journalist and television presenter known for conducting rigorous interviews with public figures.

Key Relationships

Johanna Sjoberg is a young woman who enters Jeffrey Epstein's social circle. She attends gatherings at his New York properties, observing the interactions between powerful men and young women.

Key Relationships

Associate of Jeffrey Epstein

Laura Burns is a dedicated television producer working for the BBC. She conducts extensive groundwork and research to secure major interviews with public figures.

Key Relationships

David Stern is an investor who involves himself in charitable and business initiatives connected to the royal family, brokering deals that overlap with Jeffrey Epstein's network.

Key Relationships

Business Associate of Prince Andrew, Duke of York

Associate of Jeffrey Epstein