LONDON (AP) – In a significant and formal move, King Charles III has officially stripped his brother, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, of his title as prince. This decision marks a severe action taken in light of Andrew's ongoing controversies and public scrutiny regarding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Utilizing a centuries-old legal instrument known as Letters Patent, the king has not only removed the title of ‘Prince’ but has also stripped Andrew of the designation of ‘his royal highness.’ The announcement was published in The Gazette, the U.K.'s official public record, stating, "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.'” Furthermore, Andrew has been definitively deprived of the title Duke of York, which he previously held.
Previously, on October 30, 2025, the king had made public his intentions to remove Andrew's titles and evict him from his royal residence due to the growing concern surrounding Andrew’s ties to Epstein and the resurfacing of sexual abuse allegations from Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of Epstein's victims. Giuffre's memoir was released posthumously in September 2025, further fueling the demand for action against Andrew.
The public outcry for Andrew’s removal from his lavish residence at Royal Lodge, located near Windsor Castle, has been widespread, and he is now required to relocate to a less prestigious property on the Sandringham Estate, spanning 20,000 acres in eastern England. This transfer will see him leave a mansion in which he has lived for over 20 years.
King Charles III’s decisive action has received approval from Giuffre’s family, particularly in light of her tragic death by suicide at the age of 41 in April. Giuffre had publicly argued that during her teenage years in the early 2000s, she was subjected to sexual exploitation through Epstein's trafficking network, involving other influential individuals, including Andrew. Epstein himself was found dead in a New York City prison cell in 2019, a case officially ruled as a suicide.
In response to these developments, Andrew has vehemently denied Giuffre's allegations. Nonetheless, the fallout from this situation is far from over. U.S. congressional Democrats, investigating Epstein’s sex trafficking operations, have recently reached out to Andrew, requesting his participation in an interview regarding his knowledge of Epstein and his alleged co-conspirators. The letter sent to Andrew highlights the existence of “well-documented allegations against you,” suggesting that his insight could be crucial to their ongoing inquiry.
The request specifies a response deadline of November 20 but does not obligate Andrew to cooperate with the investigation, leaving open the possibility for further complications in his already strained familial and public image.
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