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. The king 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 to the monarchy caused by continual headlines concerning Andrew’s friendship with the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of sexual assault against him. The king had the support of the Prince of Wales, and Andrew did not object.
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 move out and sort out 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. The honours affected are Andrew’s Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, retain their titles.
Buckingham Palace said the censures were deemed necessary notwithstanding that Andrew continues to deny the allegations. The king’s thoughts and sympathies remain with victims of abuse. The government supports the decision.
