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Buckingham Palace confirmed King Charles's decisive move against Prince Andrew, citing accountability and sympathy for abuse victims. The decision follows renewed scrutiny, public protests, and revelations from Virginia Giuffre's memoir.
King Charles (Image Credit: Reuters)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 31, 2025 01:14 IST
In a decisive move marking one of the most dramatic royal shakeups, Britain’s King Charles has stripped his younger brother Andrew of all remaining titles and honours and ordered him out of his Windsor residence, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday.
The palace said the monarch had initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew, declaring that the Duke of York will henceforth be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the palace said in an official royal statement.
The order also revokes Andrew’s lease on Royal Lodge, the lavish 30-room mansion near Windsor Castle where he has lived for years, forcing him to relocate to alternative private accommodation.
The statement added: “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.”
PUBLIC PRESSURE AND PROTEST
The royal move follows mounting public anger and renewed scrutiny over Andrew’s links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Earlier this week, King Charles was heckled during a public appearance at Lichfield Cathedral, when a protester shouted, “How long have you known about Andrew and Epstein?” and demanded to know if the King had asked police to “cover up for Andrew.”
The confrontation highlighted the growing unease surrounding the monarchy’s handling of the controversy.
A FALL FROM GRACE
Prince Andrew, 65, has been at the center of scandal since his friendship with Epstein first surfaced years ago. Earlier this month, he gave up all his royal titles, including the use of “Duke of York,” with his brother’s approval.
Despite his denials, Andrew’s reputation remains in tatters following the civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was 17. Andrew settled the case in 2022 for an undisclosed sum, while maintaining his innocence, famously claiming he had “no recollection” of ever meeting Giuffre.
The release of Giuffre’s posthumous memoir this year, describing encounters with Andrew and Epstein, has rekindled public outrage and renewed calls for accountability.
- Ends
With inputs from agencies
Published By:
Nitish Singh
Published On:
Oct 31, 2025
