In a bid to save the reputation of the Monarchy and put an end to his brother’s continued scandal, King Charles III has taken decisive action by evicting Prince Andrew from Royal Lodge and moving to strip him of all formal titles and honours.
A Buckingham Palace statement read: ‘His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.
‘Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
This means legal steps to remove the titles – and is a huge move for Charles. There is currently no mechanism within his power to remove titles and it requires an act of Parliament.
The news comes just days after the former Duke of York shared a statement that he had agreed with The King to cease using his titles and styles.
However, further revelations that he had continued contact with convicted sex offender Jeffry Epstein after his disastrous NewsNight interview and that he was not paying rent on Royal Lodge saw continued and increased outrage. Charles sensed the mood and ensured Andrew bowed to pressure from his brother, being ousted from the 30-bed mansion at Windsor.
‘His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence,’ the statement also said. ‘Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.
‘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 is understood that Andrew is legally entitled to compensation given the lease agreement, somewhere in the region of £550,000 – a price that The King has determined worth paying.
The private accommodation mentioned in the statement is thought to be on the Sandringham estate.
Prince William has also been part of these conversations and been extremely vocal in his desire to handle the matter of his uncle swiftly and decisively.
News of Andrew quitting his home comes just hours as MPs were demanding answers over his rent-free mansion deal amid what they called the ‘serious and disturbing allegations’ against him.
