Oct. 30 (UPI) — England’s Prince Andrew has been stripped of his official title and will leave his royal residence amid fallout from his relationship with the late convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew, the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, is alleged to have attended gatherings hosted by Epstein.
Buckingham Palace announced Thursday that King Charles III will initiate the process of removing Andrew’s “style, titles and honors.”
“Prince Andew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor,” a statement from the palace said.
“His lease on Royal Lodge has provided him with legal protection to continue in his residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.”
Andrew stopped using his Duke of York title and announced in a statement released by the palace that “the continued accusations about me may distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.”
It is the first time that a member of the royal family has been stripped of their title in more than a century, according to the House of Commons.
Andrew will move from the royal residence on the grounds of Windsor Castle to a property on Sandringham, which is the private estate of the King in Norfolk, England, according to ABC News.
Andrew has consistently denied accusations against him regarding his association with Epstein and attacked the credibility of Virginia Giuffre, author of a book centered on Epstein called, “Nobody’s Girl.”
Giuffre died of an apparent suicide in April.
In Feb, 2022, Andrew settled a sexual assault lawsuit filed by Giuffre while not admitting any wrongdoing. Epstein and Giuffre settled a lawsuit for $500,000 in 2009.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former accomplice, was convicted in 2021 on child sex trafficking and other charges connected to her involvement with Epstein.
Maxwell has consistently denied all wrongdoing and is the only Epstein associate who has been charged in connection with his crimes.
