King strips Andrew of titles and HRH style in move which ends his public life

The King has taken the dramatic decision to formally strip his brother Andrew of his Prince and Duke of York titles and HRH style, a move that ends his public life.

The disgraced royal whose friendship with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein led to his downfall will effectively have the status of a commoner and will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

The monarchy was coming under increasing pressure to resolve the issues around Andrew, with foremost his property arrangements, amid growing calls for him to give up Royal Lodge after it emerged he was paying a “peppercorn” rent for his 30-room mansion.

Andrew had tainted the reputation of the royal family with his association with Epstein and for many years was dogged by allegations he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by the financier.

He has strenuously denied the allegations.

The family of Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, have said in a statement that “today, she declares a victory” and that she “brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage”.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “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.”

It is understood the unprecedented move was taken by the King in light of the serious lapses in judgment his brother made and Charles was supported in his decision by the royal family, including the Prince of Wales, with Andrew not objecting.

Ambushed

William was put in an untenable position when he appeared to be ambushed by Andrew during the Duchess of Kent’s recent funeral, with the disgraced royal trying to talk to his nephew, who barely acknowledged him.

There have been reports William wanted the matter resolved quickly and his uncle out of Royal Lodge by Bonfire night – November 5 – as the prince is due to move his young family to their forever home at Forest Lodge, near Andrew’s home in the coming days.

Andrew will move as soon as practicable to an undisclosed property on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, with the accommodation privately funded by the King, who will also make private financial provisions for his brother.

The former prince had a “cast-iron” lease for Royal Lodge and only after negotiations with the King’s representatives did he agree to serve formal notice on Thursday to surrender the lease, which had more than 50 years left to run.

Crown Estate

Any funds Andrew is due for the early surrender will be a matter for the Crown Estate and may be affected by the £7.5 million he spent renovating the home.

Sarah Ferguson lived with her ex-husband Andrew at Royal Lodge but will not be housed by Charles and will have to find a new home.

The statement from Ms Giuffre’s family, given to the BBC, read: “Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.

“Virginia Roberts Giuffre, our sister, a child when she was sexually assaulted by Andrew, never stopped fighting for accountability for what had happened to her and countless other survivors like her.

“Today, she declares a victory. We, her family, along with her survivor sisters, continue Virginia’s battle and will not rest until the same accountability applies to all of her abusers and abetters, connected to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.”

The latest development in the long-running controversy comes after focus intensified on the King’s brother after he attempted to draw a line under Ms Giuffre’s allegations by deciding not to use his dukedom and other honours earlier this month, ahead of the publication of Ms Giuffre’s posthumous memoirs.

But Andrew was instead swamped by criticism that has focused on his property, with some MPs eager to debate the issue in parliament.

Smear campaign

There has also been a series of damaging newspaper allegations, including that Andrew tried to get the Metropolitan Police to dig up dirt for a smear campaign against Ms Giuffre.

The force said previously it is looking into the allegations after the Mail on Sunday claimed Andrew passed Ms Giuffre’s date of birth and social security number to his taxpayer-funded bodyguard in 2011 and asked him to investigate.

With further revelations likely, the King’s decision is likely to be seen by commentators as the royal family distancing itself from Andrew.

Andrew stepped down from public duties in 2019 after his disastrous Newsnight interview about his friendship with Epstein and as a non-working royal does not serve as a counsellor of state, who can deputise for the monarch if he is overseas on an official trip or ill.

He remains eighth in line to the throne but in the highly unlikely scenario Andrew was on the verge of becoming monarch, it is likely public pressure would intervene.

In 2022, the late Queen stripped her son Andrew of his honorary military roles and he gave up using his HRH style in a dramatic fallout from the civil sex case brought by Ms Giuffre.

Ms Giuffre alleged she was forced to have sex three times with Andrew, which he vehemently denies, including when she was 17 and also during an orgy, after she was trafficked by Epstein.

Andrew paid millions to settle the civil sex case with her in 2022, despite insisting he had never met her.

The formal process, involving the Lord Chancellor, to remove Andrew’s titles of Prince, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh and the style His Royal Highness has begun but the titles of his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, remain unaffected.

The honours affected are his Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order.

Removing the Dukedom of York from the Peerage Roll means it cannot be used by Andrew, but it has not been erased.