LONDON, UK — Britain’s King Charles III has stripped his younger brother, Andrew, of his title of prince and ordered him to vacate his Windsor residence, in one of the most decisive royal rebukes in recent history.
Buckingham Palace said Thursday that Andrew, 65, will no longer hold any royal titles or styles and will henceforth be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The move marks a sharp escalation in the King’s efforts to distance the monarchy from his disgraced sibling, whose association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has long tainted the royal family.
The palace confirmed that a formal notice had been served on Andrew to surrender his lease on Royal Lodge — his sprawling 30-room mansion on the Windsor Estate west of London — and relocate to “alternative private accommodation” on the Sandringham estate in eastern England.
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the palace said in a statement. “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.”
A dramatic break with royal tradition
The decision, reportedly taken by the King with full support from Prince William and other senior royals, is among the most sweeping disciplinary actions against a royal family member in modern times.
It comes amid a renewed focus on Andrew’s past ties with Epstein, following the publication of private correspondence from 2011 in which Andrew told the late financier that they should “keep in close touch” and “play some more soon.”
The latest revelations have reignited scrutiny of Andrew’s past and of his 2022 out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager — allegations he has always denied.
Giuffre, who died in April, detailed her experience in a memoir released earlier this year, reigniting public anger.
Her family said in a statement that they would “continue Virginia’s battle” to hold Epstein’s associates accountable.
From naval hero to royal exile
Once celebrated as a decorated naval officer who served in the 1982 Falklands War, Andrew’s fall from grace has been long and public.
He resigned as the UK’s trade envoy in 2011, gave up public duties in 2019, and was stripped of his military affiliations and patronages three years later.
Questions about his privileged lifestyle resurfaced recently when reports emerged that he had lived rent-free at Royal Lodge for two decades after initially paying for renovations.
A British parliamentary committee on Wednesday questioned whether it was appropriate for him to continue occupying the residence.
Polls suggest support for the monarchy — especially among younger Britons — has been slipping for years. Analysts say Charles’s decision reflects a determination to protect the institution’s integrity, even at personal cost.
“The King’s actions send a clear message: no one, however royal, is above accountability,” a palace source said.
