The family of Virginia Giuffre, the late American advocate who accused Jeffrey Epstein and former Prince Andrew of sexual abuse, has welcomed King Charles III’s decision to strip Prince Andrew of his remaining royal titles. The move marks a significant development in a saga that has captivated both the UK and international audiences for years.

“An Ordinary American Girl Brought Down a Prince”

In a statement released Thursday, Giuffre’s family highlighted the courage and resilience of the late advocate. “Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage,” the family said, praising Giuffre’s role in exposing abuse at the highest levels.

Sky Roberts, Giuffre’s brother, told the BBC that while the removal of royal titles was a step in the right direction, Prince Andrew should still face further legal scrutiny. “We need to take it one more step further: He needs to be behind bars, period,” Roberts stated, emphasizing the need for justice beyond symbolic gestures.

Buckingham Palace Takes Rare Action

On Thursday, Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles III had “initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.” The decision is a rare action in royal history, effectively evicting Andrew from his royal residences and changing his title to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

This development comes amid growing scrutiny over Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who was accused of abusing hundreds of girls before his death in a New York jail in 2019. Epstein’s connections spanned elite social circles, including high-profile figures such as former US President Donald Trump and the UK’s former ambassador to the United States.

The Legacy of Virginia Giuffre

Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in April 2025 at the age of 41, was one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers. Giuffre alleged that Andrew sexually abused her on multiple occasions after Epstein trafficked her from Mar-a-Lago at the age of 16.

In 2022, Andrew reached a multi-million-dollar settlement in a civil case with Giuffre and was stripped of most of his titles and removed from official royal duties. However, following the posthumous release of Giuffre’s memoir earlier this month, which details her experiences with Epstein and other abusers, Andrew announced he would relinquish his remaining title of Duke of York.

The memoir reportedly references Andrew 88 times, further highlighting his alleged role in Giuffre’s abuse, according to UK publication The Independent. In a public statement, Andrew maintained that he was “standing by his decision five years ago to step back from public life” and “vigorously” denied the allegations of rape.

Calls for US Investigation

While the UK has taken significant symbolic action, Giuffre’s family and some US lawmakers are pressing for further accountability. Several Republicans have suggested that Andrew could face prosecution for potential crimes committed on US soil, underscoring the ongoing transatlantic implications of the Epstein case.

To date, Andrew has not been formally charged with any crimes in the United States, but the push for greater transparency in Epstein-related investigations continues, fueled by survivor advocacy and public scrutiny.

The Broader Impact

The removal of Prince Andrew’s titles underscores a broader reckoning within elite circles regarding accountability and justice for survivors of sexual abuse. Giuffre’s family lauded the action as a milestone, reflecting both the power of survivor testimony and the importance of sustained advocacy against sexual exploitation.