King Charles III has stripped his brother, Prince Andrew, of all remaining titles and evicted him from his royal residence, Buckingham Palace announced.
In a statement, the Palace said that Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and no longer as “Prince.” This move follows revelations about Andrew’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Buckingham Palace announced the beginning of the title removal process and emphasized that the royal family stands with the victims and survivors of all forms of abuse. Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their royal titles. According to the BBC, Andrew did not oppose Charles’s decision regarding the removal of his titles and his relocation from his residence.
Full statement:
“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process for the removal of the title, honors, and distinctions of Prince Andrew.
The lease of Royal Lodge has until now provided him with legal protection to continue residing there. He has now been served with an official notice to vacate the lease and will move to an alternative private residence.
These sanctions are deemed necessary, despite his continued denial of the allegations against him.
Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and deepest sympathies have always been, and will remain, with the victims and survivors of all forms of abuse.”
“Andrew believed it was his hereditary right to have sex with me”
Pressure on the Palace to remove Andrew from Royal Lodge had been mounting, after he earlier this month renounced his title as Duke of York due to his friendship with Epstein and the allegations by Virginia Giuffre.
However, the King went even further, removing Andrew’s lifelong title of “Prince,” which he had held since birth as a son of Queen Elizabeth II. Giuffre wrote in her book that Andrew “believed it was his hereditary right to have sex with me.” The publication of these excerpts sparked a storm of reactions, leading to Andrew relinquishing not only the Duke of York title but also his honors as Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
In the line of succession to the British throne, Prince Andrew now ranks eighth, following Prince William and his three children, as well as Prince Harry and his two children.
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