In a historic royal decision, King Charles III has officially stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of the title of ‘Prince,’ ordering that he be known henceforth as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
Buckingham Palace announced the move on Thursday, confirming that King Charles had personally issued the royal directive following Andrew’s voluntary abdication of his title as Duke of York earlier this month. The decision effectively removes Andrew’s remaining formal association with the British monarchy and marks a rare act of royal discipline within the modern House of Windsor.
According to the statement, Andrew will also be required to vacate Windsor Castle, his residence since 2004. The palace noted that the transition will take place in the coming weeks, as part of a broader effort by the King to restore public confidence in the royal family after years of controversy surrounding his brother.
The move comes after years of damaging allegations linking Andrew to the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of child trafficking and sexual abuse. The Duke of York faced intense scrutiny for his friendship with Epstein, with allegations suggesting inappropriate involvement in Epstein’s circle. Although Andrew has repeatedly denied the accusations, the controversy has had a lasting impact on the royal family’s reputation.
In a statement released earlier this month, Andrew said he chose to step away from his royal duties and relinquish his titles because the ongoing scandal was overshadowing the work of King Charles and the monarchy. “I believe this is the right time to withdraw from public life and allow my family to continue their service without distraction,” he reportedly said.
Further controversy erupted last year when reports surfaced that one of Andrew’s close business associates was identified as a Chinese intelligence operative, deepening public concerns about his judgment and connections.
Royal analysts view King Charles’ latest decision as part of his broader effort to modernize and protect the monarchy’s image. The stripping of the “Prince” title effectively ends Andrew’s royal identity, signaling a decisive attempt by the Crown to move past one of its most damaging scandals in recent decades.
