Prince Andrew’s ties to disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have been a source of public scandal for more than a decade. Yet following the recent release of Nobody’s Girl, Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, in late October, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday that King Charles III had formally begun the process of stripping his younger brother of his titles—as well as removing Andrew from his longtime home, Royal Lodge, part of the Crown Estate.
Here’s what we know so far about Andrew’s current status within the royal family.
Is Andrew still Duke of York? (Is he even still a prince?)
Officially, no—Andrew, 65, will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. King Charles is also said to be sending royal warrants to remove Andrew’s peerage in relation to York, Inverness, and Killyleagh. As the daughters of the son of a sovereign, however, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will retain their titles.
Andrew—who stepped away from royal duties in 2019—first confirmed that he would be surrendering the title of the Duke of York on October 17. “In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” he said in a statement released by the Palace. “I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life. With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
What, exactly, did Buckingham Palace say about the matter?
“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,” the Palace said in a statement on Thursday.
It continued: “Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. 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. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him. 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.”
What’s the story behind Royal Lodge—and where will Andrew live now?
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