Prince Andrew stripped of ‘prince’ title and ordered to leave Royal Lodge
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CP
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that Prince Andrew has been stripped of his “prince” title and will vacate his Windsor residence, Royal Lodge, following weeks of mounting scrutiny over his past association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Palace said that Andrew, 65, will now be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, and will relocate to private accommodation on the Sandringham Estate “as soon as practicable.”
The property will be privately funded by King Charles, according to royal sources.
“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,” the statement read.
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him. 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.”
Royal Lodge lease surrendered
Andrew has received formal notice to surrender the lease on Royal Lodge, the 30-room Georgian mansion in Windsor Great Park that has been his home for more than two decades. His former wife, Sarah Ferguson, who continued to live at the property after their 1996 divorce, will also vacate the residence and make her own living arrangements, palace officials confirmed.
The move marks the latest step in Andrew’s steady withdrawal from public life since his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, widely regarded as disastrous, during which he denied allegations made by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions when she was 17.
Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, published earlier this month, renewed public attention on the scandal. She died earlier this year. Andrew has always denied the allegations and has never been charged with any crime.
New revelations and renewed pressure
The decision follows the resurfacing of emails, reportedly from 2011, suggesting Andrew maintained contact with Epstein after he had claimed to have severed ties. The Mail on Sunday published excerpts earlier this month, reigniting debate about Andrew’s judgment and honesty.
In January, Andrew voluntarily relinquished use of the title Duke of York, but retained the style “Prince.” This week’s announcement formally ends that designation.
Despite the loss of titles, Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne.
Public and political reaction
Reaction to the Palace’s decision has been mixed. Supporters of the move, including Labour MP Rachael Maskell, called it “a necessary step to uphold the dignity of public institutions.” Critics, however, have accused the monarchy of bowing to media and political pressure.
A source close to Andrew described the decision as “deeply painful but not unexpected,” adding that “the Duke remains loyal to his family and continues to deny all allegations made against him.”
Sympathy and debate
While Andrew’s reputation has suffered lasting damage, some commentators have questioned the fairness of his treatment.
In a recent opinion column, one writer argued that “the nation’s appetite for royal downfall has outpaced its appetite for justice,” noting that Andrew has never been convicted of any crime and that his relationship with Epstein, while ill-judged, was not unique among global elites.
“Whatever his sins, he has never actually been convicted of a crime,” the column read. “Bad taste is not illegal, poor judgment is not a hanging offence, and friendship with the wrong man should not be a life sentence.”
Others point to Andrew’s past public service. A Falklands War veteran and former UK trade envoy, he once represented Britain abroad at hundreds of engagements and was widely regarded as a capable naval officer. “This is not the portrait of a villain,” one royal historian said, “but of a man whose missteps have become inescapable.”
A family divided
Palace insiders say relations between the Duke and the King have been “strained but cordial.” While Charles is understood to have initiated the title removal, the decision reportedly followed weeks of difficult discussions within the family.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will retain their titles, as they are the daughters of the son of a sovereign, a right set out under King George V’s Letters Patent of 1917.
For Andrew, however, the loss of his title and home marks another low point in a long and painful fall from grace.
Once celebrated as the Queen’s favourite son, the Duke of York has seen his public life disintegrate under the weight of scandal. Today’s announcement leaves little doubt, his future will now unfold far from the palaces and privileges of royal life.
Analysis
Prince Andrew’s removal from royal status underscores the Palace’s attempt to distance itself from controversy, particularly amid renewed attention to historical associations with Epstein. Yet questions remain over fairness, public morality, and the limits of forgiveness in modern Britain, a country that, for better or worse, still defines itself through its royals.
The full statement from Buckingham Palace is as follows:
“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.
“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease 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.
“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.”
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