King Charles III [/b]has taken unprecedented action by officially stripping his brother, Prince Andrew, of all remaining royal titles, privileges and ceremonial honours.
In addition, the monarch has issued a directive for Andrew to vacate the Royal Lodge — his long-standing official residence — and relocate to private accommodation within the Sandringham estate. The development comes as pressure mounts once again over the Duke’s association with late convicted s+x offender Jeffrey Epstein, a scandal that has continued to shake the British monarchy.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed on Thursday that the king had “initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,” noting that this level of action has not been taken against a senior royal in more than a century. The decision signals the firm stance of the crown toward safeguarding the integrity and reputation of the monarchy.
Prince Andrew’s Royal Identity Removed
Following the king’s decision, Andrew will now be formally addressed as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, losing all official forms of royal styling. Royal sources revealed that the move to private accommodation underscores the king’s determination to distance the institution from the ongoing controversy.
This outcome is widely seen as a culmination of increasing public scrutiny and renewed government and palace pressure after fresh revelations suggested Andrew continued communicating with Epstein beyond the period he had admitted previously.
Memoir Triggers Fresh Outrage
The controversy ignited again with the release of Nobody’s Girl, the memoir authored by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers. In the book, she maintains her allegation that she was s+xually ab¥sed by Andrew at age 17 — claims he has consistently denied.
Giuffre passed away in April, but her legal history with Andrew remains a major point of discussion. She had previously reached a multimillion-pound settlement with him in 2022, although the agreement included no admission of guilt from Andrew.
In a strongly worded statement, Buckingham Palace said the king’s decision reflects acknowledgement of “serious lapses of judgement,” while stressing that “Their Majesties’ sympathies remain with victims and survivors of all forms of ab¥se.”
Reactions from Giuffre’s Family and Public
Giuffre’s brother, Skye Roberts, praised the historic decision, saying, “An ordinary American girl brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.” His remarks have been echoed by many activists and members of the public who have long called for greater accountability.
Andrew, 65, had already relinquished his role as Duke of York earlier this month. With this new development, he now also forfeits prestigious honours including the Order of the Garter and the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order — awards tied to centuries of royal history.
The move marks a dramatic turning point for the once-high-ranking royal, signalling complete institutional separation and ushering in a profound chapter in the monarchy’s modern era as it confronts issues of accountability and public trust.