In an unprecedented move, King Charles III has exercised royal prerogative powers to formally strip Prince Andrew of his princely title and His Royal Highness (HRH) style, following renewed scrutiny over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The decision, announced via Buckingham Palace and formalized through a Royal Warrant to Justice Secretary David Lammy, also mandates Andrew’s relocation from Royal Lodge in Windsor to the Sandringham estate.

Andrew, now styled as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, retains his position as eighth in line to the throne. However, the revocation marks a historic break from royal tradition, with commentators noting no previous monarch has rescinded a sibling’s birthright title.

The palace cited Andrew’s continued association with Epstein as “untenable,” particularly in light of newly unsealed U.S. court documents revealing a 2010 email from Andrew to Epstein—sent months after Epstein’s release from prison—suggesting a personal meeting in New York. The message was later forwarded to financier Jes Staley, who has since been banned by the Financial Conduct Authority for misleading regulators about his Epstein connections.

The announcement coincided with a live broadcast of BBC’s Question Time, where it was met with audience applause. The timing follows the release of a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, reiterating allegations of sexual abuse during her teenage years—claims Andrew has consistently denied, despite settling her civil suit in 2021 for £12 million.

Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, welcomed the palace’s action but called for further accountability. “He’s still free… We need a full investigation,” Roberts told Sky News, urging King Charles to request the release of Epstein-related files from U.S. authorities.

Andrew remains under Metropolitan Police scrutiny over alleged attempts to access Giuffre’s personal data through royal protection officers. His move to Sandringham—expected after the Christmas period—will end taxpayer-funded security at Royal Lodge, which boasts 30 rooms. Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s former spouse and current co-resident, is also required to vacate the property. Their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, retain their titles and HRH status, though the York family’s public image continues to suffer.

A YouGov poll conducted in the wake of the announcement showed 79% public support for the King’s decision, though 58% viewed the action as overdue. Royal commentator Jennie Bond described the move as a “bombshell,” while historian Robert Hardman likened Sandringham’s isolation to “royal Siberia.”

Government officials confirmed no changes to succession law, citing the complexity and lack of necessity. Meanwhile, calls for Andrew to testify in the United States persist, with his 2010 Central Park photograph alongside Epstein continuing to fuel public debate.

As the Royal Warrant removes Andrew from peerage rolls, scrutiny over royal finances intensifies. Sarah Ferguson recently sold a Belgravia property, and analysts such as Coughlan have highlighted ongoing transparency concerns regarding the intersection of public and private royal funding.