‘Terrible Thing’: Trump Calls King Charles’ Move To Strip Prince Andrew Of Royal Titles ‘Tragic’

Last Updated:November 03, 2025, 09:35 IST

UK government also confirmed plans to revoke Prince Andrew’s honorary title of Vice-Admiral, his final military rank over Epstein controversy.

Trump ‘Feels Badly’ For UK Royal Family After King Charles Strips Prince Andrew Of Titles (Photo: X)

US President Donald Trump, who has himself faced questions over past ties to Epstein, has expressed sympathy for Britain’s royal family after King Charles III formally stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of his last remaining title and ordered him to vacate his Windsor residence over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said, “It’s a terrible thing that’s happened to the family. That’s been a tragic situation, and it’s too bad. I mean, I feel badly for the family."

What does Buckingham Palace say?

Buckingham Palace announced last week that Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and has been served a formal notice to surrender the lease of his Royal Lodge mansion on the Windsor Estate. He is expected to move into private accommodation on the Sandringham Estate in eastern England.

Additionally, the UK government confirmed plans to revoke Andrew’s honorary title of Vice-Admiral, his final military rank. Defence Minister John Healey said, “We’ve seen Andrew surrender the honorary positions he’s had throughout the military. Guided again by the King, we are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral."

Epstein row

Andrew’s association with Epstein stretches back to 1999, when he was introduced to the financier by his then-girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. Despite Epstein’s 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution, Andrew maintained contact with him, with photographs showing the pair walking together in New York in 2010.

Recently released emails from 2010 showed Andrew writing to Epstein that it would be “good to catch up in person," contradicting his earlier claims of having cut ties.

The renewed controversy follows the publication of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir and reports over Andrew’s rent-free arrangement at Royal Lodge. Giuffre, Epstein’s main accuser, alleged that she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions, including when she was 17, claims Andrew has consistently denied.

Trump’s own Epstein connection

Trump himself has faced scrutiny over his past association with Epstein, with both Democrats and Republicans urging the release of government files linked to the financier. Trump acknowledged knowing Epstein socially but maintained that he had a falling out with him years before Epstein’s 2019 death in a New York jail while awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing minors.

News world ‘Terrible Thing’: Trump Calls King Charles’ Move To Strip Prince Andrew Of Royal Titles ‘Tragic’

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