Despite being stripped of all titles and honours, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is still in the line of succession – but King Charles’ younger brother is no longer a prince
Prince Andrew has been stripped of all of his royal titles(Image: PA)
Prince Andrew still has two remaining royal perks after being stripped of all titles and honours by his brother, King Charles.
After the monarch’s rare move, Andrew will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and not as a prince, and he will move from his Royal Lodge residence into “private accommodation”, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. The monarchy was coming under increasing pressure to resolve the issues around Andrew, with foremost his property arrangements, amid growing calls for him to give up Royal Lodge after it emerged he was paying a “peppercorn” rent for his 30-room mansion.
Andrew had tainted the reputation of the royal family with his association with Epstein and for many years was dogged by allegations he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by the financier. He has strenuously denies the allegations.
READ MORE: Andrew’s ‘serious lapses in judgement’ forced King Charles’s hand in embarrassing move
Andrew is set to leave the Royal Lodge(Image: PA)
Despite being stripped of his titles, Andrew is still in line of succession. He is eighth in line for the throne, according to Buckingham Palace, after Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Harry, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Andrew is also still a Counsellor of State on paper, but he will not be able to act in the role because a 2022 law change requires Counsellors of State to be working members of the Royal Family. This effectively barred Andrew and his nephew, the Duke of Sussex, from performing duties as they have stepped back from public life.
The official website of the Royal Family says: “The current Counsellors of State are The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke of Sussex, Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice. In practice, only working Members of the Royal Family are called upon to act as Counsellors of State. “
Counsellors of State are authorised to carry out most of the official duties of the Sovereign, such as attending Privy Council meetings, signing routine documents and receiving the credentials of new ambassadors to the United Kingdom. But some constitutional functions may not be delegated, including Commonwealth matters, the dissolving of Parliament, the creation or peers and appointing a Prime Minister.
King Charles with his brother Andrew(Image: Max Mumby/Indigo, Getty Images)
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “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. 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. 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 the unprecedented move was taken by the King in light of the serious lapses in judgment his brother made and Charles was supported in his decision by the royal family including the Prince of Wales, with Andrew not objecting. William was put in an untenable position when he appeared to be ambushed by Andrew during the Duchess of Kent’s recent funeral, with the disgraced royal tried to talk to his nephew, who barely acknowledged him.
Andrew will move as soon as practicable to an undisclosed property on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, with the accommodation privately funded by the King, who will also make private financial provisions for his brother. Sarah Ferguson lived with her ex-husband Andrew at Royal Lodge but will not be housed by Charles and will have to find a new home.
