LONDON (AP) — King Charles III officially removed his brother, Prince Andrew, from his royal titles and evicted him from his royal residence on Thursday. This decision follows increasing pressure regarding Andrew’s connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as announced by Buckingham Palace.
As a result of the king’s decision, Andrew will now be referred to as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, losing the title of prince he held since birth. Additionally, he must vacate his Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle.
Pressure had been mounting for the palace to remove Andrew from Royal Lodge after he relinquished his title of Duke of York earlier this month, amid new allegations regarding his friendship with Epstein and renewed accusations of sexual abuse from Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a victim whose memoir was published last week.
The king’s actions represent a significant punishment for Andrew’s poor judgment, as he stripped his brother of the title he inherited from their mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. The palace emphasized their support for the victims of abuse, stating, “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.”
This marks a rare occurrence in British history; the last time a royal merited removal of their title was in 1919, when Prince Ernest Augustus lost his British title due to his allegiance to Germany during World War I.
In reaction to these developments, Giuffre’s brother expressed his approval, stating that “an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.” Andrew faced renewed backlash following the disclosure of emails revealing his continued contact with Epstein, contradicting his earlier claims.
After resigning from royal duties post a disastrous BBC interview in 2019, Andrew settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre in 2022 without admitting wrongdoing. While the king had avoided direct involvement in the scandal prior to recent events, he is now compelled to confront the fallout, including public scrutiny after being heckled about his brother’s actions during a public appearance.
