The gay rumours were not about Prince Andrew. They were about the Queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, seen here on the day of his marriage to the Countess of Wessex.
From what I understand, there were several reasons for the rumours - Edward is gentle and delicate by nature, he's not a rampaging womaniser, he tried unsuccessfully to make a career for himself in the armed forces but had to leave under a cloud, he has a lively interest in the Theatre.
I recently read an interesting little snippet of gossip in the media about Prince Edward's wife, the
Countess
of
Wessex. Apparently, her staff call her "COW" for short. Why? Because she treats them shabbily and discourteously.