King Charles III has enacted a sweeping measure, removing his brother, Prince Andrew, from all remaining royal titles, honors, and privileges. The former Duke of York has also been ordered to vacate his official residence, Royal Lodge, near Windsor Castle. This signifies a complete withdrawal of his royal status, and he will now be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
The decision marks a significant escalation following weeks of intense public pressure concerning Prince Andrew’s long-standing ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the serious accusations of sexual abuse leveled against him. Prince Andrew, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II and brother to the current monarch, previously served with distinction in the Royal Navy for over two decades, including service during the Falklands War. His public royal duties were halted in 2019.
The underlying cause of this royal divestment is Prince Andrew’s controversial association with Jeffrey Epstein and a civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Roberts Giuffre. Giuffre alleged that the prince sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions, including when she was underage. Although Andrew has consistently denied these claims, he agreed to an out-of-court settlement in February 2022. Earlier in 2022, Queen Elizabeth II had already revoked his military titles and royal patronages. The King’s latest pronouncements, including the requirement to leave Royal Lodge and the effective disuse of his Duke of York title, represent a final severing of his public royal identity. He will be provided with private accommodation on the King’s Sandringham Estate and will receive private financial assistance from his brother, with the Palace attributing the decision to “serious lapses of judgment.”