The UK government has backed King Charles III’s decision to remove his brother, Prince Andrew, from all royal titles following renewed outrage over his alleged ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
This marks the first time in over a century that a senior royal has been officially stripped of their princely status. The move came after new claims from Virginia Giuffre’s recently released memoir, which repeated her allegations that she was trafficked as a teenager to have sex with Andrew.
As part of the decision, King Charles also ordered Andrew to leave his long-time home within Windsor Castle’s grounds. Reports say he will move to a smaller property on the King’s private Sandringham estate.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office confirmed that the government was informed beforehand and “fully supports” the King’s move.
Many people in the UK have welcomed the decision, saying it should have happened long ago. During a live BBC debate, the audience reportedly cheered when the news broke, and newspapers ran headlines like “Finally!” and “The Andrew formerly known as Prince.”
Still, some believe the punishment doesn’t go far enough. Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, told the BBC that while he commends the King’s action, Andrew “should be behind bars.” Anti-monarchy campaigners have also said they are exploring whether a private legal case can be brought against him.
Prince Andrew, 65, who has denied all allegations, paid Giuffre millions in 2022 to settle a civil lawsuit in the U.S. without admitting guilt.
Experts say the King’s move is a major step to protect the monarchy’s image and distance it from ongoing scandals. Despite losing his titles, Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne.
For now, royal watchers say the King’s action shows a firm attempt to restore public trust — though the controversy surrounding Andrew is far from over.
