King Charles has formally stripped Prince Andrew of all his royal titles and privileges.
At 65, the former Duke of York will no longer carry the titles of prince or duke. Buckingham Palace confirmed on Thursday, October 30, that Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, marking a significant change in his royal standing.
This comes as the royal faces growing pressure over his ties to the later sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement that King Charles had “initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours” of his younger brother.
“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor,” the palace said, an escalation from measures announced two weeks ago, when it said that Andrew would stop using some of his titles, including the Duke of York.
The palace said that the “censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him”.
“Their Majesties [King Charles and Queen Camilla] 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,” the statement added.
The palace also said that a formal notice had been served for Andrew to leave his home at the Royal Lodge, close to Windsor Castle.
The palace said: “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.”
Andrew will move to a property on the royal family’s private Sandringham estate, and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their titles, according to the Palace.
In a statement two weeks ago, Andrew cited “the continued accusations about me” that “distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.”
“As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me,” Andrew said.
