Prince Andrew will no longer be a “prince”.
Photo: AFP
Britain’s King Charles has moved to strip his younger brother Andrew of his titles and honours, and force him out of his home, Buckingham Palace says, over his ties with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
He will be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten.
The statement on Friday (NZT) said a formal notice had now been served on Andrew to surrender the lease of his mansion called Royal Lodge, and he will move to alternative private accommodation in eastern England.
“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,” the statement continued.
“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,” Buckingham Palace said.
It comes two weeks after Andrew said he would give up the ‘Duke of York’ title.
A palace source said that while Andrew continued to deny the accusations against him, it was clear that there had been serious lapses of judgement.
The source said the decision was taken by Charles but that the monarch had the support of the wider family, including heir-to-the-throne Prince William.
In recent weeks British newspapers have turned their focus on Andrew’s finances after The Times reported that he had not paid rent on his 30-room mansion for two decades, but had funded at least £7.5 million ($NZ17m) of renovations when he moved in.
In a rare political intervention, a British parliamentary committee had on Wednesday questioned whether Andrew should still be living in the house.
More to come…
– Reuters