Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a historic and unprecedented move, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday that King Charles III has formally stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of his royal title and remaining honours. The decision, described by palace officials as “a necessary censure,” follows renewed scrutiny over Andrew’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the ongoing fallout from the scandal.
The statement issued by the palace declared that the 65-year-old royal would, with immediate effect, be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He will no longer be referred to as “Prince Andrew” or hold the style “His Royal Highness.” In addition, the palace confirmed that Andrew will vacate Royal Lodge, his long-time residence on the Windsor estate, where he has lived for more than two decades.
“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles, and honours of Prince Andrew,” the statement read. “Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease [of Royal Lodge], and he will move to alternative private accommodation. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.”
Sources close to the palace say the King acted alone in making the decision, without pressure from government officials or other members of the Royal Family. A royal insider said that “the process has been underway for some time, but there was a need to ensure every detail was handled properly.” It is understood that King Charles has already instructed the Lord Chancellor to issue royal warrants confirming the removal of Andrew’s titles.
Although Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their royal status as granddaughters of Queen Elizabeth II, their father’s fall from grace marks one of the most serious disciplinary actions in modern royal history. The King is said to have been determined to protect his nieces from the repercussions of their father’s actions, with one palace source noting that “His Majesty would not have wanted to sign off on anything that could damage them.”
The move has the full backing of Prince William and other senior members of the Royal Family. Andrew is expected to relocate to a smaller property on the Sandringham estate, while his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will make separate living arrangements.
Epstein Connection and Renewed Allegations
The King’s decision comes amid a resurgence of public and legal pressure surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Andrew’s past friendship with the disgraced financier has continued to haunt the monarchy since his disastrous 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, in which he denied any wrongdoing.
A recently leaked email published on Sunday appears to contradict Andrew’s claim that he severed ties with Epstein after the financier’s conviction. The correspondence, sent to Epstein just 12 weeks after the Prince allegedly ended contact, shows Andrew expressing concern about media reports and reassuring Epstein that they would “rise above” the scrutiny.
Further controversy erupted following revelations about Ferguson’s own correspondence with Epstein. Despite publicly disavowing him, the former Duchess of York privately described the convicted sex offender as a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend” in an email written weeks later. The fallout has led several charities, including the Teenage Cancer Trust and the British Heart Foundation, to cut ties with her.
Virginia Giuffre’s Memoir and Legal Fallout
The latest wave of outrage was triggered by the posthumous publication of Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, who died earlier this year at age 41. In the memoir, Giuffre detailed the abuse she endured at Epstein’s hands and repeated allegations that she was trafficked for sex with Prince Andrew on multiple occasions claims the Duke has always denied.
Despite settling a civil lawsuit with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed multi-million-pound sum, Andrew has consistently maintained his innocence. However, the memoir’s release has intensified calls for accountability. The anti-monarchy campaign group Republic announced on Thursday that it had instructed lawyers to pursue a private prosecution against Andrew for alleged sexual assault, corruption, and misconduct in public office.
Political and Public Reaction
Reactions to the King’s decision have been swift and largely supportive. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said King Charles was “absolutely right” to act, calling the move “an important step towards rebuilding trust in our institutions.” Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the decision as “very difficult but necessary,” emphasizing that “the public has no tolerance for sexual abuse or impropriety, particularly involving minors.”
Stephen Flynn, the Scottish National Party’s Westminster leader, wrote on X that the King had made “the right decision and an important moment for the victims of Epstein.” The SNP had previously proposed legislation to strip Andrew of his dukedom by law.
Andrew’s Response
In a rare statement released through Buckingham Palace his first since 2019 Andrew said he supported the King’s decision and acknowledged that the continuing allegations had become a distraction.
“In discussion with The King and my family, we have concluded that the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” the statement read. “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. With His Majesty’s agreement, I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
A Defining Moment for the Monarchy
The removal of Andrew’s title represents a decisive attempt by King Charles to draw a line under years of scandal that have shadowed the Royal Family. Palace officials say the King remains determined to modernize the monarchy’s image and enforce higher standards of accountability within its ranks.
While the former Duke of York now faces an uncertain future, many royal observers believe the move signals a new era of discipline and transparency under King Charles one that prioritizes public trust over family loyalty.
