Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday, October 30 that King Charles III. decided to strip his younger brother Andrew of all royal titles, honors and his long-term residence. Andrew, who held the title ‘Prince’, will now no longer use the royal prefix and will instead be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. He is expected to leave his Royal Lodge residence at Windsor Castle and move into “private accommodation”, Buckingham Palace said.
It read: “His Majesty has today begun the formal process to remove Prince Andrew’s style, titles and decorations. Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.”
The decision to strip Andrew of all his titles and honors and evict him from his royal home comes as he has long battled his links to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations from one of his victims, Virginia Roberts Giuffre. She died by suicide in April at the age of 41.
Explaining why, the Palace went on to say that the actions were necessary, although he continued to deny the allegations against him.
“These censorships are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him. Their Majesties wish to make it clear that their thoughts and highest sympathies have been and remain with the victims and survivors of all forms of abuse,” it said.
Allegations against Andrew
Andrew faced renewed public backlash after emails emerged earlier this month that revealed he had stayed in touch with Jeffrey Epstein for longer than he had previously admitted.
A few weeks ago, he gave up his royal titles, including Duke of York, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, leaving him with just ‘Prince’.
Today, October 30, Andrew was stripped of that too.
In his statement, when he revealed his title, he again denied the allegations made by Virginia Giuffre against him. “I vehemently deny the allegations against me,” he said.
Allegations surrounding his association with Jeffrey Epstein have dogged him since 2011, when details of their association first emerged. He was forced to resign as Britain’s special trade envoy. During that time, Andrew faced questions about his ties to Saeed Gaddafi, the son of late Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi.
In 2019, he targeted Andrew who had sex with at least one underage girl. Andrew denied the allegations. He even agreed to do a TV interview defending his friendship with Epstein and categorically denied meeting Virginia Giuffre.
He also claimed to have cut off contact with Epstein in December 2010. It was recently revealed that Andrew had sent Epstein an email in February 2011 telling him they were “in this together” and “will have to get over it”.
In 2020, Buckingham Palace announces that Andrew will suspend all royal duties “for the foreseeable future”. Four days later, the prince is stripped of his role as patron of 230 charities.
In 2022, Andrew agreed to settle a civil lawsuit in New York filed by Virginia Giuffre. Legal experts estimate that the undisclosed settlement cost Andrew up to $10 million.
