What Changes For Andrew As King Charles Strips Him Of His ‘Prince’ Title?

Last Updated:October 31, 2025, 08:54 IST

Prince Andrew was stripped of the title “prince” and will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

As public anger mounted, King Charles faced renewed calls to act over Andrew’s controversial past with Jeffrey Epstein, which led to the stripping of the title of 'Prince'. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly “Prince" Andrew, was stripped of his royal title and was asked to exit the Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday.

“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor," Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Thursday evening.

This new change initiated by Charles comes as Andrew’s links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein continue to cause problems for the UK’s royals. Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.

What Titles Are Andrew Stripped Of?

Andrew is being stripped of the following titles: Prince, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh. And he will no longer have the right to be called His Royal Highness. The honours of Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order.

For the removal of titles King Charles will write to Lord Chancellor David Lammy to officially remove them.

Andrew voluntarily had given up his other royal titles, including the Duke of York just weeks before.

He had said on October 17 that he would stop using the titles because the “continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family". “I vigorously deny the accusations against me," he said.

His daughters Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice will retain their titles since they are the daughters of the son of a Sovereign as per King George V’s Letters Patent of 1917.

His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson until this month kept the title Duchess of York but reverted to her maiden name of Ferguson after Andrew was stripped of his Duke of York title.

Andrew still remains eighth in line to the throne as Charles initiates the formal process to strip him of his titles. He has not objected to the King’s decision to remove his titles.

His birth certificate does not need to be changed, the BBC said and added that the title change will not apply retrospectively.

Where Will He Live Now?

King Charles has also asked him to exit Royal Lodge. “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," the Buckingham Palace statement said.

“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."

Andrew will now relocate to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. The Sandringham estate covers approximately 20,000 acres (8,100 hectares) with 600 acres (242 hectares) of gardens. The Buckingham Palace has not said which property he will stay in.

Ferguson, 66, Andrew’s ex-wife, will also move out of Royal Lodge and will make her own living arrangements.

A formal notice was issued to him to surrender the lease at the Royal Lodge on Thursday and he will move to Sandringham will take place “as soon as practicable". The broadcaster said that Andrew’s accommodation will be privately funded by the King. Charles will make “appropriate private provision" for his brother as he moves out of his home.

Historian Kelly Swaby, who specifically covers the UK royal family, told broadcaster BBC that the language of Buckingham Palace’s statement was “very brutal".

How Was The Decision Taken?

The decision was made and action was taken accordinly due to “serious lapses in Andrew’s judgement", the broadcaster said.

Swaby told the broadcaster that public did not “care about the semantics".

“They want to see punishment, and public opinion is very much against Andrew, the Palace knows that, and the language very much reflect that," Swaby added.

The report highlighted that the wider Royal Family and the government was consulted before the decision was taken.

Jennie Bond, the broadcaster’s former royal correspondent, told the channel that she thought Prince of Wales had pushed for the recent action.

“I think this line had to be drawn and William was probably pushing for the King to do so," Bond said.

“William is about to go to Brazil on a very important tour – and the the recent tour by the King and Queen to the Vatican was very nearly overshadowed by what was going on with Andrew, and that could not be allowed to continue."

The report said the King has tried to apply pressure and last year cut off Andrew’s funding.

What Happens To Andrew Now?

The broadcaster said that Andrew will continue to be frozen out of royal public life. Prince Andrew’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has once again come under scrutiny following fresh revelations and renewed public pressure on the monarchy to address the issue.

In her posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl, Virginia Giuffre — who has long accused Epstein and others of sexual abuse — reiterated her claim that she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions when she was a teenager. The Duke of York has consistently denied the allegations.

In recent weeks, calls have grown louder for King Charles to take a stand on his brother’s status within the royal fold. Earlier this week, the King was even heckled by a protester demanding accountability over the matter.

While Andrew continues to deny all allegations against him, the Royal Family has acknowledged what it calls “serious lapses of judgment" in his past conduct.

Adding to the controversy, emails from 2011 resurfaced earlier this month, appearing to show that Andrew remained in contact with Epstein months after publicly claiming to have cut ties with the financier.

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