King Charles strips Prince Andrew of all titles
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King Charles has removed all titles from Prince Andrew and ordered him out of his Windsor home, further distancing the royal family from Andrew's links to the Epstein scandal.
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Prince Andrew at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral in September 2025 at Westminster Cathedral. (Chris Jackson/AFP)
Britain’s King Charles has officially stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of all remaining royal titles and privileges, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday. The move marks a significant step in distancing the royal family from the growing scandal surrounding Andrew’s ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew, 65, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, had already faced a gradual removal from public life. Earlier this month, he was forced to relinquish the title of Duke of York, and will now be formally known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
In the same statement, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Andrew has been served a formal notice to vacate his residence, Royal Lodge, on the Windsor Estate. He is expected to relocate to private accommodation on the Sandringham estate in eastern England.
The palace emphasized that the decision had been made by King Charles himself, who continues to receive treatment for cancer. This development is considered one of the most consequential disciplinary actions taken against a senior royal in modern British history.
Mounting pressure over Jeffrey Epstein ties
The Prince Andrew scandal has intensified over the years, in relation to his close ties with Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has repeatedly denied allegations of sexual misconduct, including those made by Virginia Giuffre, who filed a civil lawsuit against him in 2022. That case ended in a financial settlement, with no admission of guilt.
Giuffre, who passed away in April, claimed in her memoir that Andrew viewed it as his “birthright” to engage in sexual relations with her. Her family has since released a statement vowing to continue her legal and public battle, calling for accountability for all individuals connected to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Recent revelations from 2011 correspondence between Andrew and Epstein, published by British newspapers, further implicated the prince. In one message, Andrew reportedly told Epstein they should “keep in close touch” and that they would “play some more soon.”
In its statement, Buckingham Palace acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, despite Andrew’s continued denials. “These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the statement read.
“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.”
Extended royal family backs King’s decision
A senior palace source confirmed, according to Reuters, that King Charles had the support of the extended royal family, including his son and heir to the throne, Prince William. The source noted that while Andrew continues to dispute the allegations, the decision was based on “serious lapses of judgment” over many years.
The decision to remove him from Royal Lodge was also linked to public scrutiny over Andrew's failure to pay rent on the 30-room mansion, reportedly for two decades.
Once seen as a heroic figure after serving in the Falklands War, Andrew’s image has been in steep decline. He stepped down as the UK’s roving trade ambassador in 2011 and formally withdrew from all royal duties in 2019. In 2022, he was stripped of military roles and royal patronages.
Public and political pressure has been mounting. A British parliamentary committee recently questioned whether Andrew should continue living in the taxpayer-supported Royal Lodge, reflecting a rare intervention into royal family matters.
The move has drawn comparisons to the 1936 abdication of Edward VIII, who gave up the throne to marry a divorced American. Though Edward retained the title of Duke of Windsor, he lived in exile, largely removed from public life.
The royal family controversy surrounding Andrew comes amid declining public support, particularly among younger generations. Analysts say King Charles, backed by 43-year-old Prince William, is acting to preserve the institution’s credibility and public trust.
