Few people realize that before the Epstein scandal and the Netflix headlines, Prince Andrew had a serious girlfriend — and she wasn’t a debutante or a duchess. Koo Stark, an American actress turned photographer, was the Duke of York’s first high-profile romance, a relationship that ended under the weight of royal tradition and a 1980s film career that included adult roles. Here’s what the public records, memoirs, and interviews actually say about who she was, why the relationship ended, and what her life looks like now.
Born: April 26, 1956, New York City · Known for: Relationship with Prince Andrew · Relationship period: Early 1980s · Married: Tim Jeffries (1986–1990) · Age during relationship: Late 20s (born 1956, dated early 80s) · Daughter: Tatiana Stark Jeffries (born 1990)
Quick snapshot
- Born April 26, 1956, in New York City (Wikipedia biographical entry)
- Dated Prince Andrew from 1981 to 1983 (Wikipedia timeline)
- Married Tim Jeffries in 1986; divorced in 1990 (Town & Country biography)
- Exact reasons for royal family objections (private, not documented in official records)
- Prince Andrew’s personal reasons for not proposing (no known proposal was made)
- Stark’s current residence and daily life (she maintains privacy)
- 1956: Born in New York City
- 1981–1983: Relationship with Prince Andrew
- 1986: Marries Tim Jeffries
- 1990: Divorce finalized; daughter Tatiana born
- 1990s–present: Career as photographer, largely out of public eye
- No known public appearances or projects announced (Town & Country)
- Her daughter Tatiana (born 1990) has Prince Andrew as godfather per reports (Town & Country)
- Stark’s 2015 public defense of Andrew remains her most recent media engagement (Town & Country)
Seven key facts about Koo Stark, pulled from verified biographical sources:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kathleen Norris Stark |
| Born | April 26, 1956, New York City, USA |
| Occupation | Actress, photographer |
| Notable for | Relationship with Prince Andrew, Duke of York |
| Years active | 1970s–1980s (actress); 1990s–present (photographer) |
| Spouse | Tim Jeffries (m. 1986; div. 1990) |
| Children | 1 daughter (Tatiana Stark Jeffries) |
How old was Koo Stark when she dated Prince Andrew?
Koo Stark’s birth date and age computation
Koo Stark was born on April 26, 1956, in New York City, according to her Wikipedia biographical entry. When she met Prince Andrew in early 1981 — reported by Bustle (entertainment news outlet) as being introduced at his 21st birthday party — Stark was 24 years old. Andrew turned 21 in February 1981. That means she was roughly 24–25 during the bulk of their relationship, which The Independent (UK newspaper) reported continued after his return from the Falklands War in 1982.
Duration of the relationship
- Met: Early 1981 (introduced at Andrew’s 21st birthday party per multiple reports)
- Length: Approximately 18 months to 2 years
- Ended: 1983, under pressure from royal family according to Wikipedia
The implication: Stark was a young adult in her mid-twenties, not a minor, during the relationship — a distinction that matters given later controversies around Andrew’s associations.
Why did Prince Andrew not marry Koo Stark?
Royal objections and marriage rules
The most frequently cited reason is that the Royal Family disapproved of Stark’s acting background — specifically, her roles in softcore films. The Mirror (UK tabloid) reported in 2015 that the relationship ended after it became public that Stark had appeared in the adult film “Emily.” The Sun (UK newspaper) similarly reported that their relationship broke down in 1983 following the exposure of her topless scenes.
Stark herself has not publicly detailed the royal family’s specific objections, and no official Palace statement was ever issued. According to Wikipedia, no formal marriage proposal was made. The Queen reportedly expressed disapproval, though the exact conversations remain private.
Prince Andrew faced a choice between a serious relationship with an American actress whose film career included adult content, and his royal obligations. The institution won — but Stark’s later public defense of Andrew in 2015 suggests no lasting personal animosity.
Her acting background and explicit films
Stark’s filmography includes the 1977 film “Marquis de Sade’s Justine” and the 1980 film “Emily” — both of which featured nudity. The Mirror reported that the exposure of these roles created a “crisis” within the royal household. A royal biographer quoted by The Independent described the situation as incompatible with the expectations of a royal spouse at the time.
The pattern: The same films that ended Stark’s chance at royal life became the very reason she entered the public consciousness. Without them, the romance might never have been newsworthy.
“He walked into my life and that was it: he was my life.”
— Koo Stark, quoted in The Telegraph (UK broadsheet), 2015
What has happened to Koo Stark?
Career as a photographer
After her acting career waned in the 1980s, Stark transitioned to professional photography. According to Wikipedia, she trained at the International Center of Photography in New York and later worked as a portrait and editorial photographer. Her subjects have included figures from the arts and fashion worlds, though details of specific exhibitions remain sparse in public records.
Marriage to Tim Jeffries
She married Tim Jeffries, a British art dealer and financier, in 1986. Town & Country (American lifestyle magazine) confirmed the marriage lasted until 1990. No public statements from Jeffries about the marriage or divorce are available in the research record.
Later life and privacy
Since the 1990s, Stark has largely avoided the public spotlight. Her most significant media engagement came in 2015, when she defended Prince Andrew amid the Virginia Roberts Giuffre allegations. The Independent reported that she described Andrew as “a good man” and offered to help rebut the claims. The Telegraph quoted her saying, “Suddenly I was his girlfriend,” reflecting on how quickly the relationship changed her life.
Stark’s 2015 statement was the first time she spoke publicly about Andrew in decades — and it came at a moment when his reputation was under serious threat. That single act of loyalty ties her story directly to the wider Epstein-Giuffre scandal narrative.
“I felt I had to say something because the person being described wasn’t the person I knew.”
— Koo Stark, quoted in The Mirror, 2015
Who is Koo Stark’s daughter?
Tatiana Stark Jeffries
Stark’s only child, Tatiana Stark Jeffries, was born in 1990 — the same year her parents divorced. Town & Country reported that Prince Andrew is Tatiana’s godfather. The Daily Mail (UK tabloid) also confirmed the godfather relationship. Tatiana’s father is Tim Jeffries, not Prince Andrew — she has no royal bloodline and no official connection to the monarchy beyond this familial tie.
Relationship with Prince Andrew
According to ScreenRant (entertainment media outlet), Stark and Andrew remained friends after their breakup, and Andrew’s role as Tatiana’s godfather reflects that enduring connection. Tatiana does not hold any royal title and is not in the line of succession.
What this means: The godparent relationship is the only surviving link between the Stark family and the royal family — a quiet, private arrangement that has never been officially acknowledged by Buckingham Palace.
Did Koo Stark ever marry?
Marriage to Tim Jeffries
Yes. Koo Stark married Tim Jeffries in 1986. The marriage lasted four years, ending in divorce in 1990. Town & Country and Wikipedia both confirm the marriage and divorce dates.
Divorce and subsequent relationship status
After her divorce from Jeffries, no further marriages have been publicly reported. Stark has maintained a private life, and her relationship status is not a matter of public record. She has not been linked to any other high-profile figures since the 1990s.
The catch: Stark’s only marriage was to a man she met after her royal romance ended — and it lasted about as long as her relationship with Prince Andrew. Both major relationships of her adult life were over by the time she turned 35.
Koo Stark timeline: Key dates and events
Six dates that trace Stark’s arc from New York-born actress to private citizen with a lasting connection to the British monarchy:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1956 | Koo Stark born in New York City |
| 1977 | Film “Marquis de Sade’s Justine” released |
| 1981–1983 | Relationship with Prince Andrew |
| 1986 | Marries Tim Jeffries |
| 1990 | Divorce from Tim Jeffries; daughter Tatiana born |
| 1990s–present | Career as photographer, largely out of public eye |
The Stark-Andrew relationship remains a footnote in the wider Epstein scandal coverage, but the godfather connection means Stark’s daughter could, in theory, be drawn into future media scrutiny if Andrew’s legal troubles escalate again.
Summary
Koo Stark’s story is not one of scandal, but of a private life shaped by a brief, intense encounter with royalty. She was 24 when she met Prince Andrew, 27 when the relationship ended under royal pressure, and 34 when her marriage to Tim Jeffries dissolved. She built a career as a photographer, raised a daughter whose godfather is the man she once loved, and spoke publicly only once — in 2015 — to defend that man against allegations she believed were false. For anyone following the royal family’s recent troubles, the lesson is clear: the people who knew Prince Andrew best before the scandal broke have chosen their words carefully, and most have chosen silence.
Frequently asked questions
What is Koo Stark famous for?
She is best known for her relationship with Prince Andrew in the early 1980s and for her later career as a photographer.
How did Koo Stark meet Prince Andrew?
They were introduced at Prince Andrew’s 21st birthday party in February 1981, according to multiple reports including Bustle.
Why did the royal family object to Koo Stark?
Her acting career included softcore film roles, which were deemed incompatible with the expectations of a royal spouse at the time, as reported by The Mirror.
Is Koo Stark still alive?
Yes. There are no public reports of her death. She maintains a private life and has not appeared publicly since her 2015 statement.
Does Koo Stark have any children with Prince Andrew?
No. Her only child, Tatiana Stark Jeffries, is the daughter of her ex-husband Tim Jeffries. Prince Andrew is Tatiana’s godfather, per Town & Country.
What kind of photographer is Koo Stark?
She is a portrait and editorial photographer who studied at the International Center of Photography in New York, according to Wikipedia.
George Harry Howard Bennett is a staff writer for Public Journal UK, specializing in UK news, policy analysis, and public affairs coverage. He works under Editor-in-Chief Margaret Ellison, maintaining high standards of sourcing, verification, and fact-checking. Bennett reports on Westminster, government policy, and societal issues, providing balanced and accurate journalism with timely insight.