King Charles Strips Prince Andrew of All Titles and Evicts Him from Royal Residence
King Charles has stripped his younger brother Andrew of his title of prince and ordered him to vacate his royal residence after renewed public scrutiny sparked by the release of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir. The decision, announced on October 30 and backed by Prince William, represents one of the most decisive and controversial actions against a member of the royal family in modern British history.
Allegations Resurface in Giuffre’s Memoir
In her book Nobody’s Girl, Giuffre claimed that as a teenager she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions at the request of Jeffrey Epstein, including one described as a group intercourse. One meeting allegedly took place at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell, who later served a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. Giuffre said Andrew knew she was 17 at the time and portrayed him as «entitled», believing it was his right to sleep with her.
Epstein took his own life in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex crimes, and Giuffre herself died by suicide in April. Andrew has repeatedly denied the accusations, although he reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022 without admitting wrongdoing.
A Scandal that Shattered a Royal Reputation
Andrew’s relationship with Epstein has haunted him for more than a decade. He resigned as Britain’s trade envoy in 2011, and in 2019 gave a disastrous BBC Newsnight interview denying all accusations. During the broadcast, he claimed he was at a pizza restaurant during one of the alleged encounters and said he could not sweat due to a medical condition.
The interview led to his isolation from royal duties. In 2022, Buckingham Palace stripped him of his military titles and patronages, and he lost the right to be called «His Royal Highness».
His troubles deepened last year when court documents linked one of his former business partners to Chinese intelligence, prompting questions about his judgement and finances.
Andrew Loses His Home and All Royal Privileges
On October 18, Andrew announced that he would renounce his title as Duke of York and withdraw from the Order of the Garter, Britain’s oldest order of chivalry. Twelve days later, the king went further, voiding all remaining titles, including «Prince,» and ordering him to surrender his 30-room Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate.
Andrew, who has not paid rent on the property for two decades, will move to a smaller residence on the Sandringham estate and will henceforth be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
A palace statement described the move as «necessary» despite Andrew’s continued denials, adding that the king’s sympathies lie with all victims and survivors of abuse.
Public and Political Reaction
The decision has drawn widespread approval across Britain. Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders all voiced support for the king’s move, while anti-monarchy campaigners argued that losing his titles and moving to another royal estate was too lenient.
Police are reportedly reviewing claims that Andrew once asked a security officer to investigate the Giuffre allegations privately.
British newspapers greeted the news with dramatic headlines, with the Daily Mail declaring «Banished» and the Daily Mirror writing «Finally». When the BBC interrupted a live broadcast to announce the news, the studio audience reportedly broke into applause.
