By M10News Royal Desk | Source: Sky News
The family of Prince Andrew’s accuser has welcomed King Charles’s decision to remove the prince’s remaining royal titles and require him to vacate his Windsor residence, marking a historic move in the modern monarchy.
Now officially known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York will relocate from Royal Lodge to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, with his new accommodation reportedly to be privately funded by the King.
Formal Process to Remove Titles
In a statement issued by Buckingham Palace, officials confirmed that the King had initiated the “formal process” to strip Andrew of his titles and honours, and that notice had been served for him to surrender his lease on the 30-room Windsor home he shared with Sarah Ferguson.
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Royal historian Kate Williams told Sky News it was a “huge moment in world history,” comparing the move to only two previous examples — the daughters of Henry VIII (Mary I and Elizabeth I) and British royals who fought for Germany during the First World War.
Family of Virginia Giuffre Hails ‘Historic Justice’
The family of Virginia Giuffre, whose posthumous memoir reignited scrutiny of the prince’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, said their late relative had shown “extraordinary courage.”
“An ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down a British prince with her truth,” the family said in a statement.
Andrew has always denied Ms Giuffre’s allegations of sexual assault, claiming to have “no recollection” of meeting her. Ms Giuffre alleged she was trafficked by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell and forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions as a teenager.
The civil case was settled out of court in 2021 for a reported £12 million. Giuffre’s lawyer, Sigrid McCawley, said her client had “changed history” by standing up to one of the most powerful families in the world.
King’s Decision Seen as ‘Powerful Message’
The palace statement included the King and Queen’s “utmost sympathies” for victims of all forms of abuse, noting the action was taken due to serious lapses in judgment. Sources say the decision had full backing from senior royals, including Prince William.
Sky News correspondent Laura Bundock said Andrew’s continued association with Epstein “risked real reputational damage” to the monarchy and had begun to overshadow the work of the royal family.
Andrew will lose the use of “His Royal Highness”, as well as membership of the Order of the Garter and the Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order. His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson will make her own living arrangements, while their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, will retain their titles.
The government was consulted on the King’s decision and has expressed support. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy called it a “powerful message,” while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described it as a “very difficult but necessary step.”
Pressure Mounts Over Epstein Links
Despite the palace’s move, pressure on Andrew continues to mount. In the United States, Democrat Congressman Suhas Subramanyam has urged the prince to testify before Congress about his knowledge of Epstein’s criminal network.
“He owes it to the victims to share everything he knows,” Mr Subramanyam said.
The release of the so-called “Epstein files” earlier this year detailed Epstein’s social ties and led to the resignation of Lord Mandelson, Britain’s former U.S. ambassador.
The documents also mentioned Donald Trump, who, like Lord Mandelson, was alleged to have written notes for Epstein in a “birthday book.” Both men deny wrongdoing.
On Monday, Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormold is scheduled to give evidence before the Foreign Affairs Committee, addressing what checks were carried out before Lord Mandelson’s appointment to the UK’s most senior diplomatic post.
Observers say the King’s decision may not end the controversy surrounding Andrew’s past, but it represents a defining moment in royal accountability.
Editing by M10News Royal Desk | Contact: royaldesk@m10news.com
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