King Charles III has formally stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of all remaining royal titles and ordered him to vacate his long-term residence on the Windsor estate, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday.
The move marks the most dramatic consequence yet for the scandal-hit royal, whose association with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to haunt the monarchy.
“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor,” the palace said, confirming that the King has initiated the formal process to remove his brother’s titles and privileges.
The 65-year-old Duke of York has also been instructed to move out of Royal Lodge — his residence for more than two decades — and will relocate to “alternative private accommodation” as soon as possible.
The announcement follows a storm of public outrage triggered by the posthumous release of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, in which she renewed claims that she was trafficked to have sex with Andrew three times while underage. Giuffre, who took her life in April at age 41, had been one of Epstein’s most outspoken accusers.
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the palace said, adding that “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 UK government was reportedly consulted before the announcement, and Andrew did not contest the King’s decision.
Giuffre’s family welcomed the move, calling it “a victory” for their late sister.
“Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary family brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage,” they said in a statement to the BBC.
Although Andrew has repeatedly denied all allegations, he reached an out-of-court settlement in 2022, reportedly worth millions of dollars, to end Giuffre’s civil sexual assault case.
Mounting Pressure and Public Backlash
Public anger has intensified in recent weeks after revelations that Andrew had been paying minimal rent for the lavish Royal Lodge under a 2003 deal with the Crown Estate.
Further reports revealed that in 2006, Andrew hosted Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell — now serving a prison sentence for trafficking — and disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein at his daughter Beatrice’s 18th birthday celebration at the lodge.
The King’s decision also comes amid plans for Prince William, the heir to the throne, and his family to move into a residence nearby.
Andrew is now expected to relocate to the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where his expenses will be privately funded by Charles. His former wife, Sarah Ferguson, will make separate living arrangements, while their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their royal titles.
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