Andrew stripped of ‘prince’ title and evicted from Royal Lodge
King Charles will strip Prince Andrew of all his remaining titles and evict him from the Royal Lodge as his brother’s links to pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein continue to embarrass the monarchy.
In a bombshell announcement, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday that Andrew had been given notice to leave the 30-room mansion and that he would in future be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and live effectively as a commoner.
It is understood Andrew will now live at the Sandringham estate at the King’s expense, while his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson will also move in and sort out her own living arrangements.
Palace officials had hoped that forcing Andrew to renounce his title as Duke of York would draw a line to the anger, but the King moved to end the saga after MPs demanded answers to the peppercorn rent paid on the Windsor estate.
Although Andrew denies Epstein’s recent accusations, it appears that he believes Buckingham Palace made “serious errors of judgement.”
In the statement made by the palace, the following statements were made: “Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
“To date his lease at Royal Lodge has provided him with legal protection to continue his residence. Formal notice has now been given to abandon the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.
“These censorships are deemed necessary even though he continues to deny the allegations against him.”
The statement said: “Her Majesty would like to make it clear that her thoughts and utmost sympathies are with the victims and survivors of all forms of abuse and remain with them.”
Although the king initiated the process of formally abolishing his titles and honors, Andrew appears to have no objection.
The Prince of Wales is understood to support the King’s decision, as does the wider royal family. William was put in an untenable position when it was revealed that he had been ambushed by Andrew during the Duchess of Kent’s final funeral and that the disgraced royal had attempted to speak to his nephew, who barely recognized him.
It is understood Andrew’s move to an unnamed property on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk will take place as soon as possible.
Andrew faced fresh public criticism earlier this month after emails emerged that showed he had been in contact with Epstein for longer than he had previously admitted.
This news was followed by the posthumous publication of a memoir by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she had sex with Andrew when she was 17. The memoir detailed three alleged sexual encounters with Andrew, in which she said she acted as if she believed “it was her birthright to have sex with me.”
Andrew, 65, has long denied Giuffre’s allegations but stepped down from royal duties following the BBC disaster in November 2019. news night interview in which he tried to refute his claims.
He paid millions in an out-of-court settlement in 2022 after Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against him in New York. Although he did not admit wrongdoing, he acknowledged that Giuffre had suffered as a victim of sex trafficking. Giuffre died by suicide in April at the age of 41.
In a statement, his family said he “declared victory” and “deposed a British prince with his integrity and extraordinary courage.”
The following statement was made to the BBC: “Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down a British prince with her integrity and extraordinary courage.
“Virginia Roberts Giuffre, our sister, a child when she was sexually assaulted by Andrew, never stopped fighting to take responsibility for what happened to her and countless survivors like her.
“Today, she declares victory. We, along with her family and surviving sisters, continue Virginia’s fight and will not rest until the same accountability applies to all abusers and enablers associated with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.”
Sigrid McCawley, Giuffre’s lawyer in the civil sexual assault case against Prince Andrew, said the King’s decision to strip Andrew of his titles was a “turning point”.
He said: “Virginia Giuffre’s voice changed history. Her courage, determination and resilient spirit led to this defining moment.
“When we explain the significance of the landmark moment when the King removed the title of ‘Prince’ from his brother Andrew, it should be a lesson for all to listen, hear and believe survivors of abuse.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Charles was “absolutely right” to do so. He added: “It is clear that Andrew’s position has become completely untenable, embarrassing his office and embarrassing the country.
“This is an important step towards rebuilding trust in our institutions and drawing a line under this sad saga.”
The Liberal Democrats had called on the government to make time for a debate on Andrew’s lease of the Royal Lodge in parliament.
He has lived there on peppercorn rent since 2003, but paid £1 million for rent and £7.5 million for renovations.
But Downing Street said last week MPs would not be given time to debate their behavior in the House of Commons because the royal family wanted parliament to focus on “important issues”.
Speaking by phone on LBC Radio, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “I’ve been following this story more about a family. It’s a very sad situation. I think the King clearly felt that this was the right decision for the royal family. It must have been a very difficult thing for him to do. I mean, to have to do this to his own brother.”
“But standards and expectations in society are now very high. People expect to see the highest levels of integrity.”
Stephen Flynn, leader of the Scottish National Party in Westminster, told X: “It’s the right decision and an important moment for the victims of Epstein.
“I hope that all those elected to parliament who chose to advocate inaction rather than speak out regret the choice they made.”
The SNP had tabled a motion to create new legislation that would formally strip Andrew of his dukedom.
