Prince Andrew is to be stripped of his royal titles and will move out of his home at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, Buckingham Palace has announced. King Charles has initiated a “formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew”, who will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
The decision follows anxiety within the royal household about the reputational risk caused by continual headlines concerning Andrew’s friendship with the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre. Andrew has always denied the claims and settled a civil case with her for a reported £12m with no admission of liability.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that formal notice has been served to surrender the lease on Royal Lodge, and Andrew will move to alternative private accommodation on the Sandringham estate, privately funded by the king. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also leave Royal Lodge and arrange her own living arrangements.
The removal process applies to the titles of Prince, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh and the style His Royal Highness. Honours affected include the Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. It is understood the king had the support of the Prince of Wales and Andrew did not object.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie retain their titles in line with King George V’s letters patent of 1917. The government supports the decision, and the king has acted in consultation with relevant authorities.
