LONDON: King Charles III has stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of all remaining royal titles and ordered him to vacate his residence at Royal Lodge after growing pressure over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Thursday that the king had “initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles, and Honours of Prince Andrew.”
Following the move, Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, losing his title of “Prince.” He will relocate to private accommodation on the Sandringham Estate, reportedly funded personally by the king.
This decision marks an almost unprecedented step in modern royal history. Pressure on the palace had been mounting since Andrew surrendered his “Duke of York” title earlier this month after renewed scrutiny of his friendship with Epstein.
The backlash intensified with the release of a posthumous memoir by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who has long accused Andrew of sexual abuse , allegations he has consistently denied.
Palace officials said the king’s decision was made due to “serious lapses of judgment,” despite Andrew’s continued denial of all allegations.
“Their Majesties wish to express their sympathy for victims and survivors of all forms of abuse,” the statement added.
Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their royal titles. His former wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also vacate Royal Lodge and make separate living arrangements.
Prince Andrew remains eighth in line to the British throne, but his public role within the royal family has now effectively ended.
