Prince William and Princess Kate have expressed their full support for King Charles’ decision to remove Prince Andrew’s royal title and evict him from the Royal Lodge, a royal residence near Windsor Castle. This action comes in light of ongoing controversies surrounding Andrew’s long-standing association with the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. The Daily Mail’s royal editor, Rebecca English, reported on this backing from William and Kate, just days after news broke that William had threatened to reconsider the princess titles of Andrew’s daughters unless he vacated the royal estate.
The situation marks a significant moment in the royal family’s handling of Andrew’s reputation. Reports indicate that William met with his cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, urging them to persuade their father to leave Royal Lodge, or face a potential review of their own titles. A source close to the couple revealed, “The process has been underway for some while but there was a need to get it right in the face of some very big challenges.”
King Charles, during this process, reportedly found Andrew’s lack of remorse over his past actions to be “intolerable.” Andrew Lownie, author of a recent book on the York family, stated that the palace is finally taking decisive action, describing the loss of Andrew’s prince title as a “huge humiliation.” Lownie noted that Andrew has shown signs of distress regarding the situation, despite maintaining a defiant public stance.
In a formal statement released on Thursday, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the king has initiated proceedings to remove “the Style, Titles and Honors of Prince Andrew.” As a result, Andrew will now be referred to as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. He has also been formally notified to surrender his lease on Royal Lodge. This decision follows growing public pressure on the palace, especially after Andrew renounced his Duke of York title earlier this month amid revelations about his connection to Epstein and allegations from one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
The palace’s statement emphasized that actions taken against Andrew were deemed necessary despite his continued denial of the allegations against him. The king and Queen Camilla expressed their sympathies for the victims of abuse, stating their thoughts are with them.
William’s reported intervention appears to have influenced the situation. Beatrice and Eugenie will retain their princess titles, a development that Andrew viewed as a small victory in negotiations surrounding his departure from Royal Lodge. Despite ongoing public outrage, particularly following the release of emails indicating continued ties to Epstein, Andrew did not contest the king’s decision regarding his title, largely due to the lack of viable options.
As of now, Andrew is expected to vacate Royal Lodge as soon as practicable, with Sarah Ferguson, his ex-wife, also making alternative living arrangements. The ongoing fallout from Andrew’s controversial past continues to shape the royal family’s public image, as they navigate the complexities of tradition, reputation, and accountability.
