King Charles III has stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of all royal titles and ordered him to vacate his long-time residence within the Windsor Castle estate, following renewed outrage over sexual assault allegations linked to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
In a statement on Thursday, Buckingham Palace announced that Andrew will henceforth be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, adding that the King has begun formal proceedings to withdraw his remaining royal privileges.
“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor,” the palace said. “These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.”
The palace also confirmed that Andrew has been instructed to move out of his Royal Lodge residence, with plans underway for him to relocate to “alternative private accommodation.”
The decision followed public outrage after Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s principal accusers, detailed in her posthumously released memoir how she was trafficked to have sex with Andrew on multiple occasions, including when she was just 17. Giuffre died by suicide in April at age 41.
“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,” Buckingham Palace added.
Giuffre’s family welcomed the development, describing it as “a victory” for her lifelong pursuit of justice. “Today, an ordinary American girl brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage,” the family said in a statement.
Prince Andrew, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has consistently denied the allegations but in 2022 reached an out-of-court settlement reportedly worth millions of dollars to end Giuffre’s civil lawsuit.
Recent revelations have further fuelled public anger, including reports that Andrew paid minimal rent for his Windsor residence under a 2003 agreement with the Crown Estate, and that he once hosted Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein at the property.
With mounting pressure, the King’s decision also aligns with plans for Prince William and his family to relocate to a nearby residence, accelerating Andrew’s eviction.
It is understood that the 65-year-old will move to Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, with his relocation to be privately funded by the King. His former wife, Sarah Ferguson, will make separate arrangements, while their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their royal titles.
