King Charles has stripped his younger brother, Andrew, of his princely title and ordered him to vacate his long-time residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor, marking the final and most severe step in the Duke’s public downfall.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace on Thursday evening, officials confirmed that “Andrew Windsor will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.” The palace said the change was made “to ensure the title cannot be used officially,” noting that the former Duke of York had agreed not to contest the decision.
Although Andrew continues to deny all allegations of sexual assault linked to his association with the late Jeffrey Epstein, palace aides cited “serious lapses of judgment” in explaining the move. The decision is understood to have the full support of both King Charles and the Prince of Wales.
Despite being stripped of his titles, Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne. His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their royal titles, as they are children of a sovereign’s son.
The palace confirmed that Andrew will also lose his residence at Royal Lodge, the 30-room Grade II-listed mansion in Windsor that he has occupied for two decades. He is expected to relocate to a smaller property on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk — accommodation that will be privately funded by the King.
Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who has continued to live with him at Royal Lodge, will also be required to move out and arrange her own living situation.
A palace source told Metro that the decision was made to “protect the stability of the monarchy.” Royal commentator Mok O’Keeffe added: “Whether it was King Charles, Prince William, or Palace officials who made the final call, the message is clear — the Crown must be protected. As we all learned from The Crown, the institution must always win.”
Royal biographer Robert Jobson described the King’s decision as “the final humiliation” for his brother, saying it “distances the royal family from any wrongdoing.”
Political leaders across the spectrum voiced support for the King’s move. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told LBC Radio that the decision “must have been difficult,” but reflected modern expectations of “the highest levels of integrity.” Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called it “an important step towards rebuilding trust in the institution,” while SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn hailed it as “the right decision and an important moment for the victims of Epstein.”
The news broke during a live broadcast of BBC’s Question Time, drawing applause from the audience. Public opinion of Andrew remains at rock bottom — according to the latest YouGov poll, 73% of Britons say they dislike him, one of the lowest ratings of any public figure.
The last time a British prince was stripped of his title was more than a century ago, when Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, was removed from the Peerage Roll in 1919 for fighting on the German side during World War I. The same year, the royal family changed its name from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor — the name Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor now carries, as his royal identity is formally erased.
