King Strips Prince Andrew Of Title, Orders Him Out Of Royal Lodge

Prince Andrew will no longer use his royal title and must leave his home at Royal Lodge in Windsor, after weeks of pressure over his connection with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.

In a statement on Thursday night, Buckingham Palace said the King’s brother will now be called Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

Earlier this month, Andrew had already given up his other royal titles, including Duke of York, as questions continued about his private life.

This comes after Virginia Giuffre repeated claims in a recently released memoir that she had sex with Andrew three times when she was a teenager. Andrew has always denied the allegations.

Ms Giuffre took her own life earlier this year. Speaking on the new development, her family said she “brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage”.

The Palace statement said the King “has today initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew”.

The Palace also confirmed that “formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease” for Royal Lodge. Andrew will move to private accommodation on the Sandringham estate, reportedly funded by King Charles.

“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the Palace said. It also expressed support for victims of “any and all forms of abuse”.

Andrew has lived at Royal Lodge since 2004. His two daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, will keep their titles. His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson will also move out and arrange her own living plans. She now goes by her maiden name, Ferguson.

The UK government was consulted and supported the move. The Culture Secretary reacted by saying the decision sends “a very powerful message to the victims of grooming and sex offences”, adding, “I really support the step that he’s taken.”

The pressure on the Royal Family has grown in recent weeks. The Epstein scandal flared up again after Ms Giuffre’s memoir and the return of 2011 emails showing Andrew still speaking to Epstein after saying he ended the friendship.

There have also been renewed questions about Andrew’s finances and how he pays for his lifestyle despite not being a working royal. A lease agreement from 2003 showed he paid large sums upfront instead of yearly rent for Royal Lodge — over £8m — which covered a 75-year lease.

It was also reported this week that Epstein visited Royal Lodge in 2006 for Princess Beatrice’s birthday party, two months after US authorities issued a warrant for him. Andrew did not comment.

With this move, the Palace appears to be trying to close this chapter. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is still eighth in line to the throne, but will now live outside royal duties and titles.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact Us

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG