Defence Secretary John Healey has confirmed that the former Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, will be stripped of his honorary rank of vice-admiral. The decision follows King Charles's move to remove his brother's royal title and evict him from Royal Lodge.
Healey told the BBC that the government is working with the king to remove Mountbatten Windsor's remaining naval honour. He stated: 'In general, the government has been guided by the decisions and judgments the king has made. In defence, it’s exactly the same.' The defence secretary added that the removal of the vice-admiral title is in line with the king's wishes.
When asked about the possibility of Mountbatten Windsor losing his military medals, Healey said they were 'medals for his service' and that the government would be guided by the king's decisions on the matter.
The move comes amid renewed scrutiny over Mountbatten Windsor's ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Recently released emails show the former prince wrote to Epstein in 2010, shortly after Epstein's release from jail on charges of soliciting prostitution. In the email, Mountbatten Windsor suggested meeting up, saying: 'It would be good to catch up in person.'
Mountbatten Windsor served in the Royal Navy for over 20 years, including as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War. He had retained the vice-admiral rank even after giving up other military positions in 2022. His navy pension, reportedly £20,000 a year, is his only declared source of income.
Buckingham Palace announced last week that Mountbatten Windsor would lose his titles of prince and Duke of York, and would leave Royal Lodge. The king has approved a six-figure payment and an annual stipend for his brother, with talks on the financial package ongoing. The former prince is not expected to leave Royal Lodge until after Christmas.
