King Charles has made the sensational decision to strip his brother, Andrew, of his official “Prince” title—while announcing that the disgraced royal will be evicted from his longtime home near Windsor Castle in order to move to “private accommodation” at the family’s Sandringham estate.
The news comes after days of speculation and rumor about Andrew’s position within the British royal family, and his ongoing tenancy in Royal Lodge, where he has lived virtually rent-free for the past 22 years.
It was first reported on Oct. 26 that Andrew had agreed to leave the property—for which he has only been required to pay a nominal amount “if demanded” under a “peppercorn rent” lease—however it was initially suggested that he would relocate to the nearby Frogmore Cottage, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle previously lived.
Now, however, it has been revealed that Andrew, 65, will actually be moved to the royal family’s longtime Sandringham estate in Norfolk, which served as the treasured country retreat to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The move will be privately funded by King Charles.
“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,” the statement read, according to the BBC. “Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
“His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.”
Although no mention of Jeffrey Epstein was made in the statement, the Palace alluded to the allegations that have been made against Andrew with regards to his relationship with the late financier, as well as those made by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who repeatedly claimed that Andrew had sex with her when she was underage.
King Charles has announced that his brother, Andrew, will be stripped of his “Prince” title. Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain theirs, however. (Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
It has also been revealed that Andrew will move to the royal family’s private Sandringham estate in Norfolk. (RDImages/Epics/Getty Images)
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the statement went on. “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.”
Buckingham Palace noted that Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their royal titles, however.
According to the BBC, Andrew’s move to Sandringham—which is privately owned by the monarch and is not part of the Crown Estate—will take place “as soon as practicable,” although it is unclear when exactly that will be.
It is understood that Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who has been living with him at Royal Lodge for years, will also move out of the property, although the Palace did not state whether she will join her former spouse at Sandringham.
The news comes just days after Andrew announced that he was voluntarily giving up the majority of his bestowed titles and honors, in order to avoid the ongoing accusations against him from overshadowing the work being done by his brother and the other senior royals.
“In discussion with the king, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family,” Andrew said in a statement on Oct. 17.
“I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life. With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honors which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
Multiple reports suggest that the latest move was made entirely at the behest of King Charles, despite earlier reports claiming that Prince William had stepped in to force Andrew’s hand with regards to his living situation—by threatening to remove Eugenie and Beatrice’s titles.
!['Royal Lodge, Windsor: The Country Home of the Royal Family', 1937. A Grade II listed house in Windsor Great Park in Berkshire, England, known as the Royal Lodge since the late 1820s. From "George VI, King and Emperor", by Major J. T. Gorman [W. & G. Foyle Ltd., London, 1937]. (Colorised black and white print). Creator: Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/FGHQOdDO7JohaERuetf_Zw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY5NjtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/realtor_com_468/b1339c2763b609b7fa92f95fb1de8772)
Andrew has spent the last 22 years living virtually rent-free in Royal Lodge, a property that is owned by the Crown Estate. (Getty Images)
It is unclear where Andrew’s former wife, Sarah Ferguson, will move. She has been living with Andrew for years, despite their divorce in 1996. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Journalist and royal expert Emily Maitlis—the same woman who conducted the 2019 interview with Andrew that is widely believed to have shattered what remained of his credibility—alleged earlier this week that William had coerced Andrew into agreeing to leave Royal Lodge by threatening the drastic action.
“There was a question over whether there had been … a meeting between Prince William and the princesses Beatrice and Eugenie saying, ‘You’ve got to get your dad to move out of Royal Lodge, otherwise we will start reexamining the state of your own titles,'” Maitlis claimed during an episode of her News Agents podcast.
The journalist went on to claim that “pressure” was being put on the sisters to try and convince their father to move, adding: “They are, at the moment, allowed to be princesses, but there was pressure being put on them. Obviously, you can see why Andrew, as a father, would want to keep his daughters happy and keep their titles in place.”
Previous reports also claimed that Andrew had already agreed to leave Royal Lodge—but that he had demanded both he and his former wife be given their own home in return.
Sources who spoke to The Sun alleged that he would move into Frogmore Cottage, while Sarah would be given Adelaide Cottage, the home where Prince William and Princess Kate have been living for the past three years.
William and Kate are due to move out of that property within a matter of weeks, when renovations are completed on their new dwelling, which is known as Forest Lodge.
“Andy is willing to leave, but these are his demands,” a friend of Andrew told The Sun. “He is realistic and knows the writing is on the wall and that his time at Royal Lodge is up. If he must go then he has asked for Frogmore Cottage. Incredibly Sarah has said she wants Adelaide Cottage.”
The insider suggested that the former couple’s desire to live in separate dwellings “indicates that they … need a break from one another,” adding that a move would represent a “fresh start” for both of them.
