The fall of the House of York: Prince Andrew stripped of all royal titles – including ' Prince'
In a historic decision, King Charles III has formally stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of his all royal titles and honours and as of yesterday Prince Andrew would no longer be able to use his title of “Prince” and will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor..
For the monarchy, and for the brother who refused to go, the move is long-overdue.
Under mounting pressure from the public, media and within the palace, the King has said enough is enough: after years of denials, evasions and associations with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew’s place in the family and in the public eye could no longer be tenable.
His London interview in 2019 was widely condemned as a PR “car crash”; his continued links to Epstein and the revived accusations by victim Virginia Giuffre destroyed any remaining credibility.
For King Charles, the personal cost has been immense. He was forced to make a public statement in support of survivors of abuse,and to protect the long-term integrity of the monarchy.
Here is the full statement from Buckingham Palace:
“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.
Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
His lease on Royal Lodge 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.
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.”
What this means for Prince Andrew
- As of 30 October 2025 the palace announced that Prince Andrew would no longer use his style of “Prince” and would henceforth be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
- He has surrendered the long-running lease on his residence at Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle, which was legally protected until now, and will move to private accommodation.
- It is understood that Andrew did not formally object to the King’s decision.
- The move comes against a backdrop of earlier stripping of his military roles and patronages in 2022 after his links to Epstein became untenable.
Why the action was taken
The decision by the King has been described as necessary after years of “serious lapses in judgement” by Andrew.
His ties to Epstein, the civil settlement with Virginia Giuffre, and persistent public disdain meant the monarchy faced mounting reputational risk.
While Andrew continues to deny any wrongdoing, the palace has made clear that the decision is not dependent on a legal verdict but on the principle that the titles, roles and aura of the monarchy must remain beyond such controversies.
What it means for the Royal Family and the public
For the monarchy, this move allows King Charles to draw a line under one of its most contentious chapters and to signal solidarity with victims of abuse, which has increasingly become a public expectation of modern royalty.
For the public, where questions of accountability and privilege resonate deeply, the message is that even the highest cannot remain above scrutiny.
For Prince Andrew himself, the fall is total: from “His Royal Highness” and Duke of York to a private individual without royal duties, residing out of the public view.
His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will retain their titles under existing Letters Patent, but the stench of this saga will linger.
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