Prince Andrew has been stripped of his title ‘Prince’ and forced out of his Royal Lodge home amid an ongoing scandal over his relationship with late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
“His Majesty has today begun formal proceedings to strip Prince Andrew of his style, title and honor,” Buckingham Palace told Page Six in a statement on Thursday.
“His tenancy agreement at Royal Lodge has so far provided him with legal protection to continue to reside. A formal notice to abandon the tenancy has now been served and he will move to alternative private accommodation.”
The statement continued: “These charges are considered necessary despite the fact that he continues to deny the charges against him.
“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathy have been and continue to be for victims and survivors of all forms of abuse.”
The deprivation of titles applies to the Prince, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh and ‘His Royal Highness’. Honors affected include the Order of the Garter and the Grand Cross of the Order of Victoria.
According to BBC News, Andrew, 65, will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Changes take effect immediately.
As for the housing arrangement, Page Six is said to intend for Andrew to vacate the premises “as soon as practicable”.
We’re told he plans to move to the Sandringham estate, but his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, with whom he has lived at Royal Lodge since 2008, will make the arrangements herself. She will no longer hold the title Duchess of York.
Charles III’s decision, reportedly backed by his son Prince William, comes after a “serious error in judgment” by Mr Andrew, whose daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will retain their titles.
Charles “started the process,” but his brother reportedly “did not object.”
Earlier this month, Mr Andrew agreed that the “continued accusations” about his relationship with Mr Epstein would “disrupt the work of Her Majesty and the Royal Family”.
“As always, I have decided to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to retire from public life,” he said in a statement.
But Andrew added: “With His Majesty’s consent, I now feel that I must go a step further. I therefore no longer intend to use my title or the honors bestowed upon me.”
Mr Andrew had previously agreed to no longer use his title or honor, but a formal removal process is now reportedly underway.
In particular, Andrew was stripped of his military titles, royal patronage, and use of the “His Royal Highness” style in 2022, three years after stepping down from royal duties following a headline-making interview about his relationship with Epstein.
In 2021, Virginia Giuffre, who committed suicide at the age of 41 in April, accused Andrew of sexual assault, which Andrew denied. They settled out of court the following year.
The recent publication of Guiffre’s posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, has sparked renewed interest in the relationship between Andrew and Epstein.
