Britain’s King Charles strips Andrew of titles and residence

LONDON,— King Charles III has formally removed his younger brother, Prince Andrew, from his royal status and required him to vacate his residence at Windsor, Buckingham Palace confirmed Thursday.

The move, according to palace officials, aims to further separate the monarchy from Andrew’s connection to the late American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew, 65, is the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II and was once known as the Duke of York. He recently lost that title, and under the new order, will now be referred to simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

Palace sources said the king’s decision represents one of the most severe disciplinary steps taken against a senior royal in recent decades.

A statement from Buckingham Palace said Andrew has been formally notified that he must surrender his lease to the Royal Lodge, a large residence on the Windsor Estate west of London.

He is expected to move into a smaller private residence on the Sandringham estate in eastern England. The palace described the action as part of ongoing efforts to ensure the royal family reflects “integrity and accountability.”

Officials said the king, who continues to undergo medical treatment for cancer, made the decision personally but with the full support of the wider royal family, including Prince William, the heir to the throne.

“These measures were considered necessary, even as the Duke continues to deny the allegations against him,” the palace said. “Their Majesties’ thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with all victims and survivors of abuse.”

Prince Andrew has long faced public scrutiny for his friendship with Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

The prince stepped back from public duties in 2019 following a widely criticized television interview about his relationship with Epstein. He was later stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages in 2022.

In 2022, Andrew reached a financial settlement with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her as a teenager.

Giuffre, who died earlier this year, maintained her allegations in a memoir published shortly before her death. Andrew consistently denied her claims.

Giuffre’s family issued a statement saying they would continue her effort to seek accountability for “all those involved” in Epstein’s network, including associates such as Ghislaine Maxwell.

Earlier this month, British media outlets including the “Mail on Sunday” and “The Sun” published correspondence from 2011 between Andrew and Epstein. The messages appeared to show the prince maintaining contact with Epstein even after the financier’s first conviction.

A palace insider said that while Andrew’s actions may not have broken the law, they demonstrated “serious lapses in judgment.”

The source added that the king’s decision to remove Andrew from royal residences followed reports that he had not paid rent on the Windsor property for nearly two decades, despite earlier contributing to renovation costs.

The issue has also reached the British Parliament, where a committee this week questioned whether Andrew’s living arrangements were appropriate given his status and financial situation.

Royal commentators said Charles’s move reflects his determination to protect the monarchy’s image, especially as public approval among younger Britons has declined.

Observers compared the development to the 1936 abdication of Edward VIII, who left the throne to marry American Wallis Simpson. Like Edward, Andrew now faces a quiet life away from public duties and formal royal privileges.

(With files from Reuters)