King Charles took a bold step when he decided to strip his younger brother of his prince title. He surely knew that removing Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s title was something his mother would never have done. After all, the former Prince Andrew was always known to be Queen Elizabeth II’s spoiled favorite child.
On October 30, Buckingham Palace released a statement announcing that Andrew’s “style, titles and honors” would be removed, active immediately.
“His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence,” the statement continued. “Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease, and he will move to alternative private accommodation.”
The royal expert called King Charles’ decision on Prince Andrew a “painful” one
“This must have been a painful decision for the King,” royal author Christopher Andersen told Us Weekly. “Charles must know how much booting Andrew out of the royal family would have hurt his mother, the late queen. I can’t imagine Elizabeth II would have ever gone this far — not ever.”
Nevertheless, according to Christopher, there was “a lot of tension” within the family over the living arrangement. Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson had lived in Royal Lodge rent free for 22 years. As part of his “peppercorn” lease, they would have been allowed them to stay until 2078. But pressure for them to move had been building, especially from Prince William, the future king.
Following yesterday’s announcement, the royal family is eager to get both Andrew and Sarah out of the royal compound. Charles has offered his brother his own Sandringham Estate. He will also allow Sarah to stay, if she wishes.
First accused of sexual assault in 2019, Andrew continues to deny the allegations. Virginia Giuffre claimed that she was forced into a sexual relationship with him in 2001, when she was only 17.
In 2022 Andrew settled out of court when Virginia sued him for sexual abuse. Nobody’s Girl was released earlier this month and details her relationship with Andrew, as well as convicted pedofile Jeffrey Epstein.
“In the years since, I’ve thought a lot about how he behaved,” she wrote. “He was … entitled — as if he believed having sex with me was his birthright.”
TELL US – WERE YOU SURPRISED WHENCHARLES FINALLY TOOK ACTION AGAINST ANDREW?
