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King Charles’s decision to strip Prince Andrew of his royal titles and require him to leave his Windsor residence has been praised by the family of Andrew’s accuser, Virginia Giuffre.
Now referred to simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the former Duke of York will relocate from the Royal Lodge to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, with his new accommodation personally financed by the King. Buckingham Palace confirmed that the monarch had initiated the formal process to revoke Andrew’s titles and honours, and issued notice for him to surrender his lease.
Royal historian Kate Williams told Sky News that this marked a “historic moment,” noting that such title removals have only occurred twice before — involving the daughters of Henry VIII and members of the royal family who fought for Germany during World War I.
‘An ordinary girl brought down a prince’
The family of Virginia Giuffre, whose posthumous memoir recently reignited scrutiny of her allegations, stated that “an ordinary American girl with extraordinary courage brought down a British prince.” Giuffre, who died earlier this year, had alleged she was sexually abused by Andrew as a teenager after being trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Andrew has consistently denied the allegations, though the 2021 lawsuit was settled out of court for an estimated £12 million. Her former lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, said Giuffre’s bravery had “changed history.”
Reputational fallout for the monarchy
Buckingham Palace’s statement conveyed the King and Queen’s sympathy for “victims and survivors of abuse,” emphasizing that Andrew’s conduct had caused “serious reputational damage.” Insiders say the King’s decision was supported by Prince William and other senior royals.
According to Sky News correspondent Laura Bundock, Andrew’s ongoing links to Epstein continued to overshadow royal duties and risked undermining the monarchy’s image.
Political support for the decision
The move has also received backing from the UK government. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described it as a “powerful message,” while Kemi Badenoch acknowledged the King’s decision as “very difficult but necessary.” Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, added that Andrew had “disgraced his office.”
Andrew will lose his HRH style, as well as distinctions such as the Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will make separate living arrangements, while their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will retain their royal titles.
Ongoing pressure over Epstein connections
Despite the move, pressure on Andrew persists. U.S. lawmakers are calling for him to testify before Congress about his ties to Epstein. Democrat Suhas Subramanyam urged him to reveal what he knows about Epstein’s criminal network.
The recent release of the “Epstein files”—detailing Epstein’s associations—has also implicated high-profile figures such as Lord Mandelson and Donald Trump. Mandelson has expressed regret over his connection, while Trump has denied wrongdoing.
Next week, Sir Chris Wormauld, head of the civil service, is expected to face questioning by Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee over the vetting process behind Mandelson’s ambassadorial appointment.
