Update: Prince Andrew has released a statement announcing his decision to “no longer use” all remaining titles...but he continues to deny allegations against him. The statement reads:
In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.
With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honors which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.
Original story: For weeks now, it’s been rumored that Prince William is unhappy with how King Charles is handling Prince Andrew’s continued scandals. But now—following the release of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, which offers new insight into Andrew’s former friendship with Jeffrey Epstein—it seems like the King might finally take action against his disgraced brother.
According to a royal insider for The Times, King Charles has “reached a tipping point” with Prince Andrew and is now “considering all options”—one of which includes stripping him of his royal title as the Duke of York. And while such a move would require an act of parliament, there’s a good chance it could happen with the King’s backing.
As a reminder: Reports first emerged about a rift between Wills and his father after Andrew attended the Duchess of Kent’s funeral last month. At the time, insiders claimed that King Charles wanted to keep his brother around to guarantee his loyalty, while William wanted to cut him off completely.
“Charles thinks keeping Andrew and Fergie close somehow protects the family,” a source told Rob Shuter’s ShuterScoop. “But to everyone else, it looks reckless, naïve, and frankly stupid. The scandals around those two never end.”
Not long after, a source for The Times broke the news that the King had uninvited Andrew and his ex, Sarah Ferguson, from spending Christmas with the royals in Sandringham.
Per the insider: “You can’t sack someone from being your brother. But this year, if the duke and duchess were both to be as honorable [as last year], it would be very much for the best and the family would not be disappointed, not least to avoid the King having to make any more difficult decisions.”
However! According to a courtier who spoke to ShuterScoop, it was Will who pushed Charles to make this decision. “It was an ultimatum: Andrew goes, or the monarchy does,” they said. “Andrew will never appear alongside William again. Not at Christmas, not at Easter, not ever."
Another source added, “The decision makes one thing crystal clear, Charles wears the crown, but William has the power,” while yet another noted, “Andrew is finished. And William has just shown the world who’s really in charge.”
Stripping Andrew of his royal title would be the strongest line the Palace has taken since the late Queen Elizabeth stripped him of his military titles and patronages in 2022—but time will tell whether it actually happens. Speaking of which...
