Britain’s Prince Andrew is to be stripped of his title as a prince, Buckingham Palace has announced.
The brother of King Charles will be known in future as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. He is also being forced to move out of his royal lodge near Windsor Castle, although it is expected that he will be accommodated elsewhere on the royal estate.
The move comes following a public outcry in Britain over further revelations of his close links to the convicted child sex offender, the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Virginia Giuffre, who took her own life six months ago aged 41, had alleged that Epstein had forced her to have sex with the British royal three times, the first time when she was aged just 17.
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Andrew has always denied the allegations against him, but emails emerged in recent weeks that cast doubt on elements of his story including his claim to have cut off all contact with Epstein in late 2010.
An unprecedented statement on Thursday evening from Buckingham Palace said that the “censures” of losing his title and home were “deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him”.
The palace said that Charles had “initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew”. It did not outline the exact nature of the process but it is understood that Charles will execute the move by way of legal interventions known as royal warrants. The warrants will be sent to Britain’s lord chancellor, who is also the justice secretary, David Lammy. The warrants will be enacted to remove the title of prince and abolish his dukedom.
The statement added that Charles and Queen Camilla “wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse”.
Earlier this month, Andrew gave up the use of his other titles, including the Duke of York, after further disturbing details emerged of the allegations against him by Ms Giuffre in a book written by her and published posthumously. She completed the book, Nobody’s Girl, shortly before she died.
It also emerged this month that London’s Metropolitan Police are investigating reports that in 2011 Andrew allegedly passed his close protection officers Giuffre’s personal details and, it is alleged, asked them to dig up dirt on her.
This followed the publication that year of a now-infamous photo that showed Andrew with his arm around the bare midriff of a 17-year-old Ms Giuffre at the mews house in London where she alleged she was first forced to have sex with him.
BBC reported on Thursday evening that Andrew did not object to being stripped of his titles. The report also suggested that the UK government was consulted and supported the decision.
