King Charles Banishes Brother From Royal Residence, Strips Titles
Britain’s King Charles III has stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of all remaining royal titles and ordered his eviction from the Royal Lodge, following renewed pressure over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to the royal family, Andrew will now be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and must vacate the Royal Lodge mansion near Windsor Castle, where he has lived for over 20 years.
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Thursday that Andrew, who earlier relinquished the title Duke of York, will move to “alternative private accommodation.”
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him. 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,” the palace stated.
The King’s decision follows years of controversy surrounding Prince Andrew and comes amid renewed scrutiny of his friendship with Epstein, as well as fresh sexual abuse allegations by Epstein’s victim, Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
Giuffre’s brother, Skye Roberts, reacted to the development in a statement to the BBC, saying, “Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.”
Giuffre died by suicide in April at the age of 41.
The latest action is considered a major blow to Prince Andrew’s reputation and signals a dramatic break from royal tradition. Despite stepping away from royal duties, Prince Harry will retain his titles as Prince and Duke of Sussex.
According to the BBC, Prince Andrew remains eighth in line to the British throne, even after losing his titles.
The controversy over Andrew’s ties to Epstein dates back several years. In 2022, he paid millions in an out-of-court settlement to Giuffre, who accused him of having sex with her when she was 17 — an allegation he has consistently denied.
The King’s decision marks one of the rarest moves in royal history. The last time a British royal lost his titles was in 1919, when Prince Ernest Augustus was stripped of his honours for siding with Germany during World War I.
It remains unclear how this latest action will affect Andrew’s standing within the royal family and his future public role.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
