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’s brother will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, in the latest fallout from the Epstein scandal.
King Charles has initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew. It is understood the king had the support of the Prince of Wales in the decision, and Andrew did not object. The move follows anxiety within the royal household about the reputational risk to the monarchy from continued headlines concerning Andrew’s friendship with the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement 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 in Norfolk, to be 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. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie retain their titles in line with King George V’s letters patent of 1917.
Giuffre’s family said on Thursday that “today, she declares a victory” and that she had “brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.” Andrew has always denied the allegations and settled a civil case with Giuffre for a reported £12m with no admission of liability. The government supports the decision, which was made in consultation with relevant authorities.
