Andrew had personal ‘massage mattress’: friend

The pampered prince is reported to have become increasingly concerned about preening himself as he “rediscovered his youth” in the early noughties, The Sun reports.

Pals at the time claimed the Duke of York had gone from a “couch potato to a man about town” as he gained a reputation for glam holidays and parties.

“He’s spiralling out of control. He’s even started dressing like a 25-year-old in jeans and blazer,” a pal told the Evening Standard in 2001.

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They went on: “He’s started having a girl massage him and manicure his toes. He even travels abroad with his own massage mattress.”

And it’s during this period it was claimed he would pop £300 ($A566) bottles of champagne as he frequented night clubs.

Andy’s pals said he was going from “one holiday to another” – all the while growing close to Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew lived a jet set life at the time and reportedly is known to have been very particular about his travel arrangements.

He is said to have issued demands during his later career as an ambassador for British business such as having all water at room temperature on foreign trips.

And he is alleged to have travelled with a valet armed with a 6ft (182 cm) iron board as diplomats moaned he was “rude and boorish”.

Resurfaced revelations about his behaviour come after he found out a civil sex case in New York will go ahead, despite his efforts to have it thrown out.

And that saw him effectively banished from the Royal Family less than 24 hours later.

It has been revealed how Andrew would throw tantrums over his teddy bear collection if they were not placed back in the exact place he wanted.

And it has been claimed that he would force his maid to draw his curtains even when he was sat next to them.

Meanwhile, his nanny’s nickname for him as “Baby Grumpling” has re-emerged as the Duke comes under intense scrutiny in all aspects of his life.

Andrew is alleged to have become known as HBH – His Buffoon Highness for his brash behaviour while working with diplomats.

And in 2005 a member of airport security at Melbourne in Australia reportedly labelled him a “pompous p***k” after he refused to comply with routine screening before boarding a flight.

But Andrew went on to tell Tatler criticism of him wasn’t fair.

“I’m a good deal more down to earth than people would expect from a member of the Royal Family,” he said in 2000.

“The ivory tower is not a syndrome from which I suffer.”

It was also revealed today that Andrew had a spat with Meat Loaf after he became convinced the rock god was flirting with Fergie.

The Bat Out of Hell star is alleged to have grabbed the Duke and told him “I don’t give a s**t who you are” as the two rowed.

Meanwhile, ITV program Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile suggested he may have had an intimate relationship with convicted pimp Maxwell, who would visit Buckingham Palace as she pleased.

And then Andrew’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts have been quietly deleted amid the furore.

Andrew is facing the fight of his life as Virginia’s case against him comes to trial despite his legal team’s efforts to sink the lawsuit.

It is claimed that the Duke sexually abused her when she was 17 after being trafficked to him by Epstein and Ghislaine.

Andrew strongly denies all allegations against him.

His already damaged reputation now lies in tatters and his future in the Royal Family looks increasingly in doubt – amid suggestions he could lose his final title, the Duke of York.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Prince Andrew had personal ‘massage mattress’ and hired girl to give him pedicures: friend