UK's King Charles III strips Prince Andrew of royal titles amid Epstein ties allegations

Prince Andrew, King Charles' brother, will lose his prince title and leave Royal Lodge home near Windsor Castle amid growing pressure over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

"Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor," Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Thursday, as the king has initiated a formal process "to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew."

His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence, it noted, adding that formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.

"These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him," said the palace.

The BBC reported that Andrew will move to a property on the private Sandringham estate in Norfolk, to be privately funded by the king.

Andrew, 65, withdrew from royal duties in 2019 after his connection to disgraced convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein became public.

In 2022, he settled a civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, an American who accused Epstein of trafficking her to Andrew when she was 17.

Giuffre died earlier this year, and her forthcoming posthumous memoir reportedly includes new claims involving Andrew.

Earlier this month, he gave up his other royal titles, including the Duke of York, amid growing allegations about his relationship with Epstein.

Andrew has consistently denied the allegations, and the settlement included no admission of liability.

'Pincer movement'

Adding to the outcry following the chart-topping book's release, The Times revealed last week that the prince had not paid rent for two decades on his Royal Lodge home, where he lives with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

The arrangement stems from a seemingly favourable 2003 deal for the mansion owned by the Crown Estate, the royal family's independently run land and property holdings.

British newspapers reported over the weekend that it had prompted ongoing talks between the king and the prince about Andrew vacating Royal Lodge.

The Sunday Times said he faced "a pincer movement from parliament and Buckingham Palace to strip him of his dukedom and banish him" from Windsor.

The newspaper reported he may agree to move out if offered financial compensation and a suitable alternative home.

The Daily Mail said heir-to-the-throne Prince William and his family are set to move into a new residence near Royal Lodge and that he wants his uncle to leave beforehand.

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Source: TRT