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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's crisis is "bigger" and "more serious" than the abdication of former King Edward VIII, later known as the Duke of Windsor, a royal author has claimed. The former Duke of York has been banished into exile in Norfolk after disturbing details of his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein emerged within the latest tranche of documents released by the US Department of Justice about the convicted paedophile.

Andrew has also lost his titles and honours and was forced to give up the lease on his home in Windsor, Royal Lodge, for more than 20 years. He has always denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Edward - one of the shortest-reigning British monarchs to date - shocked royal watchers back in 1936 when he abdicated the throne after only 325 days of being monarch.

He caused a constitutional crisis when he proposed to marry Wallis Simpson, an American socialite who had divorced her first husband and was seeking a divorce from her second.

But as he was unable to marry Simpson while still being King and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, he abdicated. Edward was succeeded by his younger brother, George VI, the late Queen Elizabeth's father.

But a royal expert claims that despite the severity of Edward's abdication, Andrew's humiliation is a bigger crisis the Royal Family has to overcome. Royal author Andrew Lownie claims Andrew's actions have caused "greater public anger" than those of the Duke of Windsor.

Speaking at Oxford Literary Festival, Mr Lownie said that Edward's abdication was a "three-day wonder" and that, at the time, the public did not engage with the full details of the bombshell incident.

But he added that the crisis surrounding Andrew and his involvement with Epstein has caused a "deeper royal crisis".

The royal author indicated that some members of the Firm may have known about Andrew's dealings long before it became public.

According to The Times, Mr Lownie said during his appearance: "There were MI6 officers who went to [royal] private secretaries and said, 'Look, he [Andrew] has been caught with $5 million in a suitcase in Kazakhstan,' and they were sent away with a flea in their ear."

Andrew was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office and was held in custody for 11 hours before being released under investigation.

His arrest came after files in the Epstein documents suggested he may have shared confidential information with the US financier during his time as the UK's trade envoy.

The former prince has always denied any wrongdoing.