In a significant move by the British monarchy, Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles has stripped his brother, Prince Andrew, of his royal title. The decision comes amidst heightened scrutiny over Andrew's association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. As a result, Prince Andrew, aged 65, will no longer carry the title of "Prince" and is set to leave his 30-bedroom home at Royal Lodge, situated on the Windsor Castle estate.
The Palace has described these actions as "necessary censures" in light of the ongoing controversy surrounding the Epstein scandal. The King's decision, which now relegates Andrew to the name Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has reportedly garnered the full support of the Royal Family, including Prince William.
This news follows the emergence of an email exchange between Andrew and Epstein that further implicated the former Duke, culminating in the revelation of a photo depicting Andrew with Epstein's alleged victim, Virginia Giuffre. Andrew's departure from Royal Lodge concludes his over twenty-year occupancy, shared with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who is expected to arrange her own living situation independently.
The unfolding events underscore King Charles's commitment to addressing the scandal, as he initiates the process to revoke Andrew's remaining honors. The former Duke has not challenged these developments.
Public response to the Palace's actions has been mixed. Annie Farmer, one of Epstein's earliest accusers, expressed a sense of accountability being served, echoing the sentiments of Giuffre's family, who view the decision as a triumph for sexual abuse survivors. On the other hand, some critics, like Twitter user Liesl, see the King's actions as mere damage control to preserve the monarchy's image.
Royal historian Andrew Lownie suspects further repercussions for Andrew, suggesting more disclosures may be forthcoming. Meanwhile, the anti-monarchy group Republic has announced plans for a private prosecution against Andrew on multiple charges, advocating for equal legal treatment of the royals.
The controversy continues to cast a shadow over the Royal Family following the settlement of a U.S. civil case brought by Giuffre against Andrew last year, which closed with a reported £12 million settlement and no admission of liability. The Queen was believed to have contributed financially to the settlement.
