Britain’s former prince Andrew is set to lose his last remaining military title as part of King Charles III’s ongoing efforts to remove him from public life. The move follows growing public anger in the United Kingdom over Andrew’s past association with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Defence Minister John Healey confirmed on Sunday that plans were underway to revoke Andrew’s title as Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy. He told the BBC that the King had clearly “indicated that’s what he wishes.” Healey added that the government and the palace were working together to implement the decision soon.
“This is the right move, guided by the King’s wishes,” Healey said. “We’ve seen Andrew surrender many honorary positions before, and now we’re proceeding to remove the last remaining title.”
The latest step follows King Charles’s announcement last week removing all remaining royal titles and honours from his younger brother. Buckingham Palace also issued a firm statement confirming that “Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor,” stressing that the decision was necessary despite his continued denial of wrongdoing.
Andrew’s fall from grace began in 2022 when his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, stripped him of honorary military titles after he was sued by Virginia Giuffre, the main accuser of Jeffrey Epstein. Giuffre alleged that she was trafficked to have sex with the Duke of York when she was just 17 — accusations Andrew has consistently denied.
A former Royal Navy helicopter pilot, Andrew had earned praise for his service during the 1982 Falklands War and retired in 2001 after 22 years. However, his friendship with Epstein and his controversial 2019 BBC interview drew widespread criticism for showing no sympathy toward Epstein’s victims.
According to reports, the King and Queen Camilla have expressed their “utmost sympathies” for all victims and survivors of abuse. Sources close to the royal couple said this move reflects their commitment to accountability within the monarchy.
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