According to the royal family, from now on, the former prince will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and must vacate the Royal Lodge mansion near Windsor Castle, where he has lived for more than 20 years.
Britain’s King Charles III has stripped his brother Prince Andrew of his remaining titles and evicted him from his royal residence, Royal Lodge, after weeks of pressure to act over his relationship with convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
According to the royal family, from now on, the former prince will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and must vacate the Royal Lodge mansion near Windsor Castle, where he has lived for more than 20 years.
Andrew, who surrendered his use of the title Duke of York earlier this month, will move to “alternative private accommodation,” Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him. Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse,” the statement said as quoted by AP.
The King’s rare move follows years of scandal surrounding Prince Andrew, and comes after new revelations about friendship with Epstein and renewed sexual abuse allegations by one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
Giuffre’s brother, Skye Roberts, declared victory for his sister, in a statement to the BBC, saying, “Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family, brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.”
Giuffre died by suicide in April at the age of 41.
The move is seen as a significant blow to Prince Andrew’s reputation and marks a dramatic departure from the royal family. Prince Harry, despite renouncing his royal role, will retain his titles as Prince and Duke of Sussex.
According to the BBC, Andrew remains eighth in line to the British throne, despite losing his titles.
BACKGROUND
The scandal surrounding Prince Andrew’s relationship with Epstein has been ongoing for years, with many calling for him to be stripped of his titles and royal privileges.
In 2022, Prince Andrew paid millions in an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre, who alleged he had sex with her when she was 17. Prince Andrew has long denied the claims, but stepped down from royal duties after a disastrous 2019 BBC interview.
The King’s decision to strip Prince Andrew of his titles is seen as a rare and significant move, with few precedents in British royal history. It last happened in 1919, when Prince Ernest Augustus, who was a U.K. royal and also a prince of Hanover, had his British title removed for siding with Germany during World War I. It remains to be seen how this will affect Prince Andrew’s future and his relationship with the royal family.
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