Prince Andrew has been formally stripped of his royal status and ordered to leave his official residence at Royal Lodge, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday, marking a dramatic fall from favor amid the ongoing controversies surrounding his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to the palace statement, King Charles III has initiated the process to remove “the Style, Titles and Honors of Prince Andrew.” From now on, Andrew will be known as Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor.
“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,” the palace added.
What’s changed
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Andrew’s lease on the Royal Lodge in Windsor has been formally surrendered, and he is expected to relocate to private accommodation on the King’s Norfolk estate ( privately funded by the monarch.)
Sandringham Estate
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His former title, “Duke of York” had already been relinquished earlier this month amid mounting pressure.
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The move is widely seen as a decisive effort by the royal household to draw a line under one of its most persistent reputational crises.
Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein and their mutual circles has long been the subject of public and legal scrutiny.
A civil lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre alleging that she was trafficked by Epstein and forced into sex with Andrew when she was 17 led to an out-of-court settlement in 2022. Andrew denies wrongdoing.
More recently, newly surfaced emails suggesting Andrew remained in contact with Epstein beyond his previously stated cutoff brought renewed criticism.
The palace says the decision — though “necessary, notwithstanding the fact that [he] continues to deny the allegations” — stems from “serious lapses of judgment.”
Political and public pressure has grown for stronger action. UK ministers described previous steps as “the right course of action,” though they emphasized that further title changes are a matter for the monarchy rather than government policy.
Implications
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Andrew’s removal from his high-profile residence and loss of princely title mark an unprecedented shift in how the royal family handles internal discipline.
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His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their titles despite their father’s demotion.
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The decision may signal a broader change in expectations of royal conduct and accountability.