In a historic and unprecedented move, King Charles III has stripped his brother Prince Andrew of all remaining royal titles and honours, formally evicting him from his long-held Royal Lodge residence. The decision follows weeks of mounting public pressure over Andrew’s continued association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and renewed sexual abuse allegations.
Buckingham Palace Confirms Removal of Titles and Honours
In a statement released Thursday, Buckingham Palace announced that the king had “initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.”
Following the decision, the disgraced royal will now be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, losing the title of “Prince” and all other designations granted by birth and royal decree. The 65-year-old has also been ordered to vacate his Windsor residence and relocate to private accommodation on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
Palace officials called the decision “necessary to protect the integrity of the monarchy,” citing “serious lapses in judgment.”
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the palace statement said.
“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
Historic Royal Action: A Rare Precedent
The removal of royal status is almost unprecedented in modern British history. The last time a member of the royal family was stripped of a princely title was in 1919, when Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover lost his British titles for supporting Germany during World War I.
Prince Andrew had already been forced to surrender his title of Duke of York earlier this month amid new revelations about his ties to Epstein and the publication of a posthumous memoir by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims who accused Andrew of sexual abuse.
The Giuffre Allegations and Public Backlash
Virginia Giuffre, who passed away in April 2025 at age 41, alleged that she was forced into sexual encounters with Andrew as a teenager, claims he has consistently denied. Her memoir, Nobody’s Girl, reignited public outrage with new details about her alleged encounters with the prince.
“He acted as if having sex with me was his birthright,” Giuffre wrote in the book, which has topped bestseller lists since its release.
Giuffre’s brother, Skye Roberts, hailed the king’s decision as a moral victory for survivors of abuse.
“Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage,” Roberts said.
Andrew’s reputation had already been severely damaged after a 2019 BBC interview in which he attempted to defend himself but instead sparked widespread criticism for appearing insensitive and evasive.
Legal and Financial Fallout
Although Andrew has never been criminally charged, he settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre in 2022, reportedly paying millions of pounds while maintaining his innocence. The settlement acknowledged Giuffre’s suffering but did not admit guilt.
Following Thursday’s announcement, Andrew will lose his royal patronages and honours, including:
- Order of the Garter
- Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
- The titles of Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killyleagh
He will also be barred from using “His Royal Highness” in any official or personal capacity. Sources close to Buckingham Palace say he will continue to receive limited private financial support from the king.
Fallout Inside the Royal Family
Royal insiders describe the move as “deeply painful but necessary” for King Charles III, who has faced pressure from both the British public and members of Parliament to take stronger action against his brother.
Palace aides say the king made the final decision earlier this week after new emails surfaced showing that Andrew maintained contact with Epstein long after claiming to have severed ties.
The decision aligns with King Charles’s broader effort to “modernize and streamline the monarchy”, reducing its size and limiting financial dependence on the Crown Estate.
What’s Next for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
Andrew is expected to relocate to a smaller residence on the Sandringham estate, where he will live quietly out of the public eye. Royal observers suggest the king’s decision effectively ends Andrew’s public role and marks the final chapter of a long and controversial saga that has cast a shadow over the royal family for years.
As Buckingham Palace seeks to repair its reputation, the removal of Andrew’s titles sends a clear message: the modern British monarchy will not shield its members from accountability.
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