The Buckingham Palace has announced on 30 October 2025 that King Charles has begun a formal process to remove the style of Prince Andrew, his titles and honors, and that Andrew will no longer be known as a prince but as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, and will leave the Royal Lodge. This decision marks one of the most significant royal actions in recent decades.
Renewed attention intensified after the memoir of Virginia Roberts Giuffre was published posthumously in August 2025. She outlined 3 alleged encounters involving Andrew. These details resurfaced earlier controversies connected to Jeffrey Epstein and prompted officials to revisit unresolved issues that had already pushed Andrew away from public duties in 2019.
Public pressure rose again when questions resurfaced about the 2022 civil settlement between Andrew and Giuffre. The agreement was a significant payment but contained no admission of wrongdoing. However, its public impact strengthened calls and increased public demands for accountability across the institution associated with Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace stated that King Charles initiated a formal internal review in 2025 to examine remaining honors held by Andrew. Officials explained further that the goal was to align the royal household with modern public expectations and moderate further disruptions stemming from recurring controversies linked to the association of Andrew with Epstein.
The palace announcement on 30 October 2025 confirmed that Andrew will lose the style and title of prince, the style of His Royal Highness, and several remaining honors and royal privileges. The change will also formally reidentify him as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and will necessitate him to vacate Royal Lodge within the Windsor estate as soon as possible.
The removal process reflects broader efforts by King Charles to maintain institutional credibility amid persistent media and public pressure. Hence, by revisiting unresolved matters from 2019 through 2025, the monarch and royal household are to reinforce public trust and follow evolving standards of accountability shaping the current era of constitutional monarchy.