Andrew, younger brother of King Charles III, is surrounded by many controversies. Andrew will now be stripped of his title of ‘Prince’ and will also have to move out of his home ‘Royal Lodge’ in the Windsor Castle complex. Buckingham Palace announced this on Thursday.
This announcement by Buckingham Palace has been made at a time when, just a few days ago, Andrew (65 years old) has decided to give up his royal title ‘Duke of York’ and all other royal honors. This decision was taken after discussion with King Charles.
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Andrew’s name was in constant controversy due to his association with American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. However, the controversy was not subsiding. British lawmakers also recently debated whether Andrew has to pay much less rent to live in the royal home than ordinary people.
Andrew is no longer allowed to live in the Royal Lodge
“Today Her Majesty has begun the process of formally withdrawing Prince Andrew’s titles, honors and all royal rights,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. Now Andrew will be known as ‘Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’. Andrew was no longer allowed to live in the Royal Lodge. Now they will have to leave that house and live in a private house. The Palace said the decision was necessary, even though Andrew still denies all the allegations against him.
The statement said that Their Majesties the King and Queen wish to make clear that their full support and sympathy goes out to all victims and survivors who have suffered any form of atrocities. Andrew has already stopped using the title of ‘His Royal Highness’ and stepped away from public life five years ago. Earlier this month he announced that he would also give up all his remaining royal titles. However he again denied all the allegations.
All allegations made against me are false: Andrew
Andrew is the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II. He traditionally held the title of ‘Prince’, as established by a decree of King George V in 1917 and updated by Elizabeth II in 2012. Andrew said in a statement released on October 18, “After discussions with the King and my family, we recognized that the continued allegations against me are a distraction from the work of the King and the Royal Family.” Therefore, as always, I put my duty towards my family and country first. I have already stepped back from public life and am now taking a step forward and giving up all my titles and honours. I reiterate that all the allegations made against me are false. Andrew’s ex-wife and close friend Sarah Ferguson will no longer use the title of ‘Duchess of York’. However, the titles of his daughters Princess Beatrice and Eugenie will not be affected.
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What controversies is Prince Andrew involved in?
This decision has been taken at a time when Andrew has come under renewed pressure over his relationship with Epstein and allegations of his links to an alleged Chinese spy. Recently, Virginia Giuffre’s autobiography ‘Nobody’s Girl’, who sued Andrew for sexual assault in 2021, was published. Many new allegations have been made in this book. Virginia died in April this year, but her book was published after her death.
