In an unprecedented royal shake-up, King Charles III has officially divested his brother, Prince Andrew, of all his remaining royal titles, honors, and privileges. Prince Andrew has also been compelled to relinquish his longtime residence at Royal Lodge, near Windsor Castle, and will henceforth be known solely as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
This decisive action by the King comes after a period of mounting public outcry and persistent controversy surrounding Prince Andrew’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and the disturbing sexual abuse allegations against him. As the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew enjoyed a lengthy career in the Royal Navy, including service as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands War, before stepping back from public duties in 2019.
The ongoing fallout from Prince Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein and a civil lawsuit filed by Virginia Roberts Giuffre has culminated in this royal purge. Giuffre accused the prince of sexual assault on several occasions. Despite maintaining his innocence, Prince Andrew reached a significant financial settlement with Giuffre in February 2022. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, had previously stripped him of his military titles and royal patronages in January 2022. This latest decree from King Charles, which mandates leaving Royal Lodge and effectively retires the Duke of York title, signifies a complete removal from public royal life. Prince Andrew will continue to receive private financial support from his brother and will be moved to private accommodations on the Sandringham Estate, with official statements citing “serious lapses of judgment” as the grounds for these severe measures.