Prince Andrew stripped of titles: What future awaits the fallen duke?

Saturday 01 November 2025 - 14:20

By: Sahili Aya

Prince Andrew stripped of titles: What future awaits the fallen duke?

The British monarchy faces renewed turbulence following King Charles III’s decision to strip his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his princely titles, including Duke of York. The move marks the most severe step yet in distancing the royal family from the long-running scandal linked to Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein, the late American sex offender.

Life after the palace

Buckingham Palace announced that the 65-year-old former prince will also have to vacate his 30-room Royal Lodge residence in Windsor, where he has lived for decades. He is expected to relocate to the royal estate at Sandringham, although it is not yet known which property will house him.

“He’s been effectively sent to the royal equivalent of Siberia,” said royal biographer Robert Hardman on the BBC. The Palace clarified that Andrew will live at the King’s expense to avoid further controversy.

According to The Guardian, he could receive a six-figure financial settlement for leaving the property, as stipulated in his 2003 lease with the Crown Estate, along with a smaller personal allowance from Charles. Andrew reportedly retains a naval pension of £20,000 a year, but the King withdrew his annual £1 million grant last year.

His move is expected after Christmas, partly to avoid an awkward family gathering at Sandringham during the holiday period.

Legal shadow lingers

Andrew continues to deny allegations from Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault when she was 17 under Epstein’s control. In 2022, the two reached a confidential financial settlement in the United States.

Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025, but a U.S. congressional committee continues to investigate the broader Epstein network. Her family and lawyer Gloria Allred have urged Andrew to testify voluntarily.

Meanwhile, British police are examining new reports alleging that Andrew once asked his security detail to gather information on Giuffre to discredit her. “He’s far from being out of trouble,” said royal historian Andrew Lownie, predicting further embarrassing revelations as U.S. court documents are released.

Still in line for the throne

Despite losing his royal status, Andrew remains eighth in line to the British throne. Some lawmakers have called for legislation to exclude him from succession, though the government has no plan to change the law, according to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson.

Calls for greater accountability

The scandal has reignited debate about transparency and parliamentary oversight of the monarchy. MP Rachael Maskell has introduced a bill to make it easier to remove noble titles from disgraced royals.

Meanwhile, the Public Accounts Committee has requested details from the Crown Estate and Treasury about Andrew’s lease, which reportedly allowed him to live rent-free after a large upfront payment.

“This is an opportunity for the monarchy to become more transparent about its finances,” said Lownie. “But by isolating Andrew, they may simply be trying to shield the rest of the family from deeper scrutiny.”