King Charles III has initiated a formal and decisive process to strip Prince Andrew of his remaining royal titles and evict him from his residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor. This significant action, described as the most consequential taken by King Charles since his ascension to the throne in 2022, means Prince Andrew will now be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

The move follows considerable anxiety within the royal household regarding the reputational risk to the monarchy posed by ongoing headlines concerning Andrew’s friendship with the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of sexual assault made against him by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims. Despite Andrew consistently denying claims he had sex with Giuffre when she was 17 and settling a civil case with her for a reported £12 million without admitting liability, recent revelations, including a 2011 email from Andrew to Epstein stating, “we are in this together,” underscored the necessity of this action. Giuffre’s family declared a “victory” following the announcement, stating that her truth and extraordinary courage brought down a British prince.

The titles and honours removed include Prince, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh, and the style His Royal Highness (HRH). Andrew had ceased using the HRH style in 2022, but its removal is now formal. He will also be stripped of his Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, Andrew’s daughters, will retain their titles in line with King George V’s letters patent of 1917, as King Charles is understood to be keen to protect his nieces.

As part of the process, formal notice has been served to surrender the lease on Royal Lodge. Andrew will move to a property on the private Sandringham estate in Norfolk, with his accommodation privately funded by the King. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also move out of Royal Lodge and will make her own living arrangements, having lived with Andrew at the 30-room Grade II-listed mansion since 2008 despite their 1996 divorce.

The removal process involves the King sending royal warrants to the Lord Chancellor to secure the removal of the Dukedom of York from the peerage roll, along with the title of Prince and the style of Royal Highness. Subsidiary titles like Inverness and Killyleagh are similarly affected. This comprehensive process, which required legal and constitutional expertise and wider royal family support, was undertaken without using parliamentary time, a decision supported by the government.

Political figures have reacted positively to the King’s decision. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called it “very difficult” but “right,” emphasizing that the public has no tolerance for sexual abuse allegations. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described it as a “really brave, important and right step” that sends a “powerful message” to victims. Stephen Flynn, leader of the Scottish National party in Westminster, echoed these sentiments, while Democratic congressman Suhas Subramanyam urged Andrew to provide evidence about Epstein’s crimes.

King Charles’s motivations for this swift and ruthless action are rooted in his commitment to safeguarding the monarchy’s reputation and ensuring its stability for Prince William’s eventual reign. Ascending the throne at 73, Charles views his role as a caretaker and could not allow the “rot to set into an institution that lives and dies by public consent.” While Andrew continues to deny the accusations, the King felt it was clear there had been serious lapses of judgment. The decision was made solely by the King and his advisors, without pressure from the government or other family members.