In a major royal shake-up, King Charles III has stripped his younger brother, Prince Andrew, of his “Prince” title and instructed him to vacate his long-time residence, Royal Lodge in Windsor. The move comes after months of tension between the brothers and years of controversy surrounding Andrew’s public image.
Background: The Fallout of the Epstein Scandal
The root of Andrew’s downfall can be traced back to his association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Although Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing, his ties to Epstein sparked a storm of criticism and led to his withdrawal from public royal duties in 2019. His infamous BBC Newsnight interview that same year only worsened his standing, as public outrage grew over his perceived lack of remorse or accountability.
Since then, Andrew has lived a largely secluded life at Royal Lodge, the 30-room mansion he leased from the Crown Estate. Despite no longer being an active working royal, he continued to use his title “His Royal Highness” in private, which reportedly became a point of contention within the Palace.
Why King Charles Took Action Now
As per reports, sources close to the Royal Household say that King Charles’ decision was motivated by a desire to protect the monarchy’s image and uphold transparency and accountability. With the late Queen’s era now firmly in the past, Charles is determined to modernize the institution and distance it from any lingering controversy.
According to reports in The Sun and Town & Country, tensions reached a breaking point after Andrew resisted repeated requests to downsize to Frogmore Cottage — the former home of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — and refused to relinquish his lease at Royal Lodge. The King reportedly sees this as a matter of fairness and optics: a non-working royal continuing to occupy one of the most prestigious royal properties while others contribute actively to public duties sends the wrong message.
By removing Andrew’s title and asking him to vacate the property, Charles is effectively formalizing what has been an unofficial situation since 2019 — Andrew is no longer a “Prince” in function or privilege.
