King Charles’ statement as Andrew is stripped of titles and home
King Charles strips Prince Andrew of his titles and honors and evicts him from the royal house.
In the statement made by Buckingham Palace, it was stated that an official notice was sent to Andrew to give up his lease at the Royal Lodge in Windsor.
The king’s decision comes after mounting pressure to expel Prince Andrew from the lodge over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations from Epstein victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
Read the King’s full statement:
“His Royal Highness has today begun a formal process to remove Prince Andrew’s Order, Titles and Honors.
“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. He has now been given formal notice to surrender his lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.
“These censorships are deemed necessary even though he continues to deny the allegations against him.
“Her Majesty wishes 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.”
Andrew to be moved to ‘private accommodation’
It is understood Prince Andrew will be moving to a property at Sandringham Estate.
Future stays will be privately financed by the King.
Legal and constitutional expertise and the support of the wider family were required to make the developments happen.
The King initiated the process and Andrew apparently did not object.
The government was consulted and made clear that it supported the constitutionality of the decision.
The move will take place as soon as possible and it is understood that Andrew will receive a suitable private supply from the King.
‘It’s a very sad situation’
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said it must have been “very difficult” for the King to strip his brother of his titles and his Royal Lodge residence.
He told LBC Radio: “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.
“And I’m afraid that the whole Jeffrey Epstein saga and everyone he touched, from Prince Andrew to Peter Mandelson, has shown that the public has no interest whatsoever in sexual abuse and sexual crimes, especially against minors. And I think that’s quite true.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey backed the King’s decision to strip Andrew of his titles.
He said: “The King is absolutely right to strip Prince Andrew of both his titles and his residence in the Royal Lodge.
“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.”
