Prince Andrew stripped of his “prince” title

In another extraordinary development, King Charles III has initiated a formal process to strip his brother Andrew of his title as a Prince and with immediate effect he will now be referred to as  Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

Andrew is understood not to have objected to the King’s decision and this latest action follows the decision by Andrew himself earlier in the month to relinquish his other royal titles, including that of the Duke of York, after more questions arose about his private life. 

This was after emails emerged detailing how Andrew continued to have contact with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for months after he had declared their friendship had ended.

Also, and even more damning, a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre repeated allegations that, as a teenager, she had sex with the Prince on three separate occasions, although Andrew has always repeatedly denied all of the claims.

The family of Ms Giuffre, who took her own life earlier this year, called her an “ordinary American girl who brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage”.

The other title Andrew has lost – as well as Prince and Duke of York – is Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh, together with the honours of Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order. Additionally, he will no longer have the right to be called His Royal Highness.

A statement from Buckingham Palace read: “His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style,Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew who will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge in Windsor 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 (at the royal estate in Sandringham).

“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.”

It is a move that ends Andrew’s public life and the disgraced royal will effectively have the status of a commoner.

It is understood that Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, formerly the Duchess of York, will also have to move out of Royal Lodge and will be required to make her own living arrangements. The 66-year-old is the mother of Andrew’s two children, princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, who will be allowed to retain their titles.

Despite being stripped of his titles, Andrew remains eighth in line for the throne. Those ahead of him in the order of succession are: