Prince Andrew was born a prince, the son of Queen Elizabeth II, in 1960. But the title he has carried his entire life will soon be taken from the 65-year-old.
And Andrew will now be titled by his real name, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, without royal precedence.
King Charles has begun a "formal process" to strip Andrew of his title, Buckingham Palace announced in a brief statement on Thursday, which also states that the prince is no longer allowed to live in his residence Royal Lodge on the royal family's estate in Windsor.
According to the BBC , he will be allowed to move to a residence located at the royal family's country estate, Sandringham, in Norfolk. According to the media company, the accommodation will be paid for by the king and the move will be carried out "as soon as practically possible."
No assignments for six years
Sources told the BBC that Andrew did not oppose King Charles' decision. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince William are said to have been consulted and approved the decision. William has previously distanced himself more strongly from Andrew than his father the king has.
Andrew's two daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, will be allowed to keep their titles, as daughters of a regent's son, according to royal protocol.
Two weeks ago, Andrew renounced the title of Duke of York.
"With His Majesty's consent, we believe that I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honors that have been bestowed upon me," he wrote in a statement on October 17.
The prince withdrew from his public duties back in 2019 as a result of his friendship with the then-dead sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and a high-profile interview on the BBC, in which he failed to convince the British of his innocence.
Thoughts for the victims
His connections to Epstein have once again been brought to light and the storm of criticism has flared up. Among other things, it is said that the prince cut ties with Epstein later than he previously claimed.
Prince Andrew has always denied all allegations against him, not least regarding trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre's allegations against the prince of sexual assault when she was 17 years old.
Giuffre died earlier this year at the age of 41. Her family said in a statement on Thursday that “today, an ordinary girl from an ordinary American family, with her true words and courage, brought down a British prince.”
The Royal House's statement on Thursday also ends with words that show where Andrew's own family stands on the debt issue.
"The measures are deemed necessary, not least given that he continues to deny the allegations made against him. Their Royal Highnesses wish to make it clear that their thoughts and deepest sympathies have and always will be with the victims and survivors of all forms of abuse."
Born February 19, 1960, as Andrew Albert Christian Edward, third child and second son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
Is number 8 in the British line of succession.
Served as a pilot in the British Navy during the Falklands War in 1982.
Married Sarah Ferguson in 1986. They then became the Duke and Duchess of York. Andrew and Sarah divorced ten years later.
Has two daughters with Sarah Ferguson, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, born in 1988 and 1990 respectively.
Accused in 2014 of raping 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre in 2001 at the home of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Giuffre later sued Andrew, but the parties reached a settlement over the sexual assault allegations in 2022. Giuffre died earlier this year at the age of 41. Her posthumous memoir was released last week.
On October 17 this year, Andrew renounced the title of Duke of York as well as several other titles and honors, including Britain's highest order, the Order of the Garter.
