In a historic move that has sent shockwaves through British society and the wider world, King Charles III has formally stripped his younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, of all royal titles and privileges following years of scandal and controversy. The decision, cemented by a centuries-old legal document known as Letters Patent, was published in The Gazette, the United Kingdom’s official public record, on November 6, 2025. The announcement marks the most severe public censure of a senior royal in modern history, effectively erasing Andrew’s status as a prince and as 'His Royal Highness,' and removing his title as Duke of York.
"THE KING has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 3 November 2025 to declare that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor shall no longer be entitled to hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of 'Royal Highness' and the titular dignity of 'Prince'," the official entry in The Gazette read, as reported by multiple outlets including AP, Sky News, and BBC.
This dramatic step is the culmination of mounting pressure on the monarchy following renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s relationship with convicted U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and the posthumous publication of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, Nobody’s Girl, in October 2025. Giuffre, who died by suicide at age 41 earlier in the year, was one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers and had repeatedly alleged that Andrew sexually abused her as a teenager—allegations the former prince has always denied.
The king’s decision also included the removal of Andrew’s dukedom. A separate entry in The Gazette confirmed that by Royal Warrant dated October 30, 2025, Andrew was removed from the Roll of the Peerage as Duke of York. For over two decades, Andrew had lived at Royal Lodge, a 30-room mansion near Windsor Castle, paying what has been described as a "peppercorn rent." Now, he has been ordered to vacate the property and will move to a more remote residence on the king’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, about 200 kilometers north of London. The estate, inherited by King Charles from Queen Elizabeth II following her death in September 2022, is a private royal property far removed from the public eye.
According to The Mail, the king’s actions were prompted not only by the ongoing fallout from Andrew’s association with Epstein but also by new revelations. Unsealed court documents revealed emails in which Andrew told Epstein, "we are in this together," shortly after the infamous photograph of Andrew with a then-teenage Giuffre was made public. Additional emails showed Andrew expressing a desire to "catch up in person" with Epstein months after the financier’s release from jail—a direct contradiction to Andrew’s earlier public statements about severing ties with Epstein.
The move to strip Andrew of his royal titles was welcomed by the family of Virginia Giuffre. Her relatives described her as "an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family" who "brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage." Annie Farmer, another of Epstein’s earliest accusers who testified in the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, told the BBC, "Virginia did what most thought impossible. She showed the world that even the most powerful predators can be held accountable."
Despite the gravity of the allegations and the evidence of ongoing contact with Epstein, Andrew has consistently denied all accusations against him, including ever meeting Giuffre. In 2022, he settled a U.S. civil case brought by Giuffre for a reported £12 million, with the settlement including no admission of liability. The funds for the settlement were reportedly provided in part by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Buckingham Palace, in a statement issued on October 30, 2025, made clear the necessity of the king’s actions: "These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him." The Palace also offered condolences to survivors of abuse, stating, "Their Majesties 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."
The consequences of Andrew’s fall from grace have extended beyond the loss of titles. He has been erased from the Royal Family’s official website, with no mention of him under "The Royal Family" page or in search results. His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, retain their titles as Her Royal Highnesses, but royal commentators have speculated that their status may be affected by their father’s disgrace. Christopher Wilson, a royal expert, remarked to The Mail that King Charles’s "soft-hearted" approach to his nieces might be a temporary reprieve, hinting that further changes could come under Prince William’s eventual reign.
Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s ex-wife and longtime ally, has reportedly been deeply affected by the events. Sources suggest she is "blaming herself" for her former husband’s humiliation and is considering leaving the UK, as invitations and public support have "dried up overnight." Ferguson has lived with Andrew at Royal Lodge, but will now have to find a new home, as King Charles will not be providing her with accommodation.
Andrew’s removal from royal life is nearly total, but not absolute. He has been allowed to keep his operational service medals, including those earned during his 22-year career in the Royal Navy and his service in the Falklands War. Veterans have argued that it would be "morally indefensible" to strip medals earned through active military duty.
The reverberations of this royal crisis have not been confined to the UK. On November 7, 2025, Democrats on a U.S. congressional committee investigating Epstein’s sex trafficking network sent Andrew a letter requesting a formal interview about his knowledge of Epstein’s activities. The letter, which does not compel Andrew’s cooperation, stated, "Well-documented allegations against you, along with your long-standing friendship with Mr. Epstein, indicate that you may possess knowledge of his activities relevant to our investigation." The committee has asked for a response by November 20, 2025.
As the dust settles, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor—no longer a prince, no longer a duke, and no longer "His Royal Highness"—faces an uncertain future. Once a fixture of the British royal family and society, he is now, in the words of The Mail, "a regular member of the public." The monarchy, meanwhile, has taken an unprecedented step to distance itself from scandal, signaling a new era of accountability—however belated—for even its most privileged members.
