Epstein scandal: King Charles strips Prince Andrew of royal title, orders him out of Windsor home

King Charles

King Charles III has formally stripped Prince Andrew, his younger brother, of his “prince” title and ordered him to vacate his Windsor residence.

The decision comes amid renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement on Thursday, Buckingham Palace said the King “has today initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew”.

The statement added that the 65-year-old royal “will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor”.

The palace also confirmed that “formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease” on Royal Lodge, Andrew’s Windsor mansion, which he has lived in for more than two decades.

He is expected to relocate to the royal estate in Sandringham, Norfolk, with any future accommodation privately funded by the King.

“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the statement added.

“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.”

It requires an act of parliament to formally strip Andrew of his Duke of York title, though he voluntarily gave up its use earlier this month as pressure mounted over his continued association with Epstein.

Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s ex-wife, who had retained the title Duchess of York since their 1996 divorce, will also move out of Royal Lodge and revert to her maiden name.

The 66-year-old author and television personality is the mother of Andrew’s two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.