In a sweeping move announced on Thursday, King Charles III has formally initiated the process to remove his brother Prince Andrew’s royal style, titles and honours, according to a statement by Buckingham Palace. Andrew will now be known as “Andrew Mountbatten Windsor” and will relinquish his long-held residence at the Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, being ordered into private accommodation instead. 

The palace emphasised that while Andrew continues to deny the allegations against him, the “censures are deemed necessary”. The move comes amid renewed scrutiny of his past association with the late convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein and resurfacing claims by one of Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Roberts Giuffre. 

The action marks one of the most significant royal adjustments in recent times. The King is understood to have acted with the support of senior members of the royal family and consulted government legal advisers, reflecting concern over reputational risk to the monarchy.