King Charles III has stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of all royal titles and ordered him to vacate his long-time residence on the Windsor estate, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday. The move marks the latest fallout from the continuing scandal surrounding Andrew’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor,” the palace said, confirming that the King had initiated the formal process to remove his brother’s titles.
The 65-year-old royal has also been instructed to leave his residence on the Windsor Castle grounds and “move to alternative private accommodation” as soon as possible.
The announcement follows renewed outrage sparked by fresh sexual assault allegations from one of Epstein’s main accusers, Virginia Giuffre, detailed in her recently published memoir. The book, released posthumously, reiterates Giuffre’s claims that she was trafficked to have sex with Andrew three times — twice when she was 17.
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the palace said, adding that “Their Majesties’ thoughts and utmost sympathies remain with the victims and survivors of all forms of abuse.”
Giuffre, who took her own life in April at age 41, had previously reached a multimillion-dollar settlement with Andrew in 2022 to end a civil sexual assault case.
Her family welcomed the King’s decision, telling the BBC that “today, she declares a victory,” and describing Giuffre as “an ordinary American girl” whose “truth and extraordinary courage brought down a British prince.”
Although Andrew reportedly did not contest the King’s move, the decision came amid mounting public anger. Last week, The Times revealed that the prince had paid minimal rent on his Windsor residence — Royal Lodge — under a favourable 2003 deal with the Crown Estate.
Calls for his eviction intensified after reports that he hosted Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein at the property in 2006 for his daughter Beatrice’s 18th birthday.
Public frustration has also spilled into royal appearances; during a recent cathedral visit, the King was heckled by a protester shouting: “How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?”
Andrew had reportedly resisted leaving Royal Lodge, demanding to move instead into Frogmore Cottage — formerly occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — and asking that his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, be allowed to relocate to Adelaide Cottage.
However, palace sources said Thursday that Andrew will move to the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk and will be privately funded by Charles. Ferguson is expected to make her own living arrangements, while the couple’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their royal titles.
