In a shocking move, King Charles III has stripped his brother Prince Andrew of all royal titles and honors amid the ongoing fallout from the late Jeffrey Epstein scandal. The decision comes despite Prince Andrew's repeated denials of wrongdoing, which apparently fell on deaf ears for the monarch.
According to Buckingham Palace, the decision was made "notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him." Charles has taken a firm stance, opting to revoke his brother's royal status rather than tolerate any further controversy. As a result, Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
This drastic measure marks a significant departure from previous protocol, with Prince Andrew being the first member of the royal family to lose their title since 1919. The former prince had previously stepped down from public duties in 2019 following a lawsuit from Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, whom he settled out of court for Β£12 million without ever admitting guilt.
In a statement earlier this month, Prince Andrew claimed to have "put my duty to my family and country first" while announcing his decision to relinquish his title. However, the move seems to have been prompted by Charles's desire to distance himself from the scandal, rather than any genuine commitment to transparency or accountability.
The fallout from this development is set to be significant, with Prince Andrew's removal from royal life raising questions about the limits of royal immunity and the monarchy's willingness to tolerate wrongdoing. As one of the most senior members of the royal family, Prince Andrew's loss of title marks a major blow to Charles's attempts to restore public trust in the institution.
According to Buckingham Palace, the decision was made "notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him." Charles has taken a firm stance, opting to revoke his brother's royal status rather than tolerate any further controversy. As a result, Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
This drastic measure marks a significant departure from previous protocol, with Prince Andrew being the first member of the royal family to lose their title since 1919. The former prince had previously stepped down from public duties in 2019 following a lawsuit from Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, whom he settled out of court for Β£12 million without ever admitting guilt.
In a statement earlier this month, Prince Andrew claimed to have "put my duty to my family and country first" while announcing his decision to relinquish his title. However, the move seems to have been prompted by Charles's desire to distance himself from the scandal, rather than any genuine commitment to transparency or accountability.
The fallout from this development is set to be significant, with Prince Andrew's removal from royal life raising questions about the limits of royal immunity and the monarchy's willingness to tolerate wrongdoing. As one of the most senior members of the royal family, Prince Andrew's loss of title marks a major blow to Charles's attempts to restore public trust in the institution.