Prince Andrew marks a landmark birthday today as he turns 65 – and it seems the plans for any celebrations will be very different to the ones that had been lined up for him five years ago…

As Prince Andrew approached his 60th birthday five years ago, he was seemingly looking forward to a huge celebration.

Not only that but he was also expecting a grand honorary Navy promotion that would have seen him elevated to the rank of Admiral. But just weeks before his big day, he was forced to step away from royal duties after his car crash Newsnight interview. The sit-down chat with the BBC sent shockwaves around the world with Andrew declining to say he regretted his association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, memorably recalling a visit to Pizza Express and claiming he was medically unable to sweat.

And in the weeks after the interview, the big birthday bash was cancelled and the Navy honour was ‘deferred’. Now five years on as he turns 65 today, Andrew has been dogged by yet more scandal due to his links to an alleged Chinese spy.

Andrew has recently been dogged by scandal ( 
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PA)
He is also said to be embroiled in a row over his crumbling Royal Lodge home in Windsor, which he shares with ex-wife Fergie, and how he intends to pay for its costly upkeep. But one expert believes despite his seemingly reduced life now, the Duke of York will still mark the landmark birthday.

Biographer Andrew Lownie, who has spent years researching Andrew for a new book, told The Sun he imagines he will have a small gathering at Royal Lodge to mark turning 65. According to the publication, the disgraced duke still has loyal pals from high society who have stood by him and despite appearing to live a reclusive life, he still manages to have outings in London and lunches with pals at a luxury hotel near his home.

Before the Newsnight interview, Andrew had a full diary of royal duties. In the year before the disastrous chat, he carried out a total of 394 engagements – more than his nephew Prince William.

Andrew’s main tasks included promoting British businesses abroad as well receiving foreign dignitaries visiting the UK on behalf of the late Queen. He also helped to set up and run the Dragon’s Den style initiative Pitch@Palace, which saw start up business owners connected with potential investors during special events at Buckingham Palace.

But just days after the interview, Andrew sensationally quit public life “for the foreseeable future”. In a statement, approved by the late Queen, he said it had “become clear” to him that his “former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work.” He expressed sympathy for the victims of the convicted sex offender and disgraced financier, saying he “hoped they could rebuild their lives.”

Andrew with his older brother King Charles ( 
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Getty Images)
He was also noticeably absent from the official photos from his oldest daughter Princess Beatrice’s lockdown wedding. Beatrice wed husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in a low-key ceremony in Windsor under Covid restrictions.

However, he did make fleeting appearances at royal events that have been deemed family occasions. These have included the late Queen’s funeral, the King’s Coronation and a memorial for the former King Constantine of Greece earlier last year. However, he was forced to skip royal Christmas at Sandringham in December when his links to alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo emerged. In a High Court hearing it was heard that Mr Yang, who has been banned from the UK had been a ‘close confidant’ of Andrew’s.

But it’s not the only problem he’s had to contend with. Last month it emerged Andrew is facing a £1million bill for urgent repairs after an inspection on his crumbling mansion. The Mirror’s exclusive pictures showed the residence in a dire state, with large cracks in the masonry, peeling plaster and discoloured paint around the main house and staff quarters. Andrew is understood to have given assurances he would be able to meet the financial obligations needed for essential repairs.

As recently as 2019, the house had been painted and showed no signs of dilapidation. But in just over five years, the 19th century Grade II listed property, estimated to be worth around £30million, has fallen into immense disrepair, with increasing levels of damp and mould both inside and outside the buildings.

A royal source said: “The house is in a dire state and is in desperate need of repair. The Duke has been told in no uncertain terms that extensive and urgent repairs are needed to ensure the long term viability of the property before it falls into irrevocable decay.”