King Charles III of Great Britain has begun the formal process of stripping his controversial younger brother, Prince Andrew, of his royal titles and statuses.
Buckingham Palace said the monarch believes these measures are necessary.
The monarch's 65-year-old relative now officially bears the name Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, dropping the “Prince” prefix and the title “His Royal Highness.” He has also lost the title of Duke of York, which he held for more than three decades.
Along with the loss of his royal honours, Andrew received notice to terminate his lease on Royal Lodge, a thirty-bedroom residence in Windsor Royal Park. The estate had previously been financed by the state, but following Andrew's retirement from public duties in 2020, his status as a “working member of the family” was officially revoked.
According to British media reports, the monarch's brother will now live in one of the private estates in Norfolk, the costs of which will be covered by the king himself.
The decision was the logical conclusion to a scandal that had been simmering since the late 2010s. It stemmed from the prince's long-standing friendship with American financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of sex trafficking minors. Andrew denied all charges, but in 2022, he settled Virginia Giuffre's lawsuit, paying her compensation. She died in Australia in April 2024, shortly before the publication of her memoirs.
Following him, his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also be forced to leave the palace. The former Duchess of York, a close friend of Princess Diana, has lost her right to reside at Royal Lodge. The Daily Mail reports that her decision was influenced by her long-standing correspondence with Epstein and her financial ties to him.
Meanwhile, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the daughters of Andrew and Sarah, retained their titles and status as “Her Royal Highness”.