LONDON - In one of the most drastic moves in modern British royal history, Prince Andrew has been stripped of all his remaining royal titles and honours. In addition, he will be forced to leave his current royal residence, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace. The decision, which sources say was personally approved by King Charles III, is intended to end a long-running crisis sparked by Andrew's controversial ties.
The main reason for this crackdown is the ongoing consequences of Andrew's friendship with convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein died in custody in 2019 under circumstances that authorities have ruled a suicide. Prince Andrew had been closely associated with him and his companion Ghislaine Maxwell for many years, earning him criticism from the media and the public.
"His Royal Highness has stopped using the style 'His Royal Highness' and no longer performs any official public duties. Andrew will retain his military ranks but will not actively use them," an official palace statement said. The move effectively means that Andrew, 57, will become a private person without any formal representation from the Crown.
The crisis came to a head last year when Andrew lost a lawsuit against Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault. Although the dispute was settled out of court with a financial settlement, the amount of which has not been disclosed, the prince continues to maintain his innocence. For the royal family, however, the affair was a huge reputational blow.
From his accession to the throne, Charles III clearly sought to modernise and streamline the monarchy. The eviction of Andrew from the Royal Dockyard, his current residence, is seen as part of this plan. The King reportedly wants to prevent the 'shadow of the past' from threatening the future of the monarchy under his rule and that of his successors.
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