Prince Andrew’s name has long been linked to Epstein, the late American financier and convicted sex offender. Among Epstein’s victims was Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexually abusing her in 2001 when she was 17. A now-infamous photograph shows Andrew with his hand around Giuffre’s waist, alongside Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, at Maxwell’s London home in March 2001.
Prince Andrew to Be Known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
Following the removal of his royal titles, Andrew will now go by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, according to Buckingham Palace.
The surname, established in 1960, merges the family names of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to represent their descendants.
Previously known as Prince Andrew, Duke of York, the disgraced royal was stripped of the “Duke of York” title earlier this month, part of King Charles’s broader effort to shield the monarchy from further controversy.
Eviction from Royal Lodge
The palace confirmed that Andrew has also been directed to vacate Royal Lodge, the 30-room mansion within Windsor Great Park that has been his home since 2003.
The property once belonged to the Queen Mother, who lived there until her death in 2002, after which Andrew was granted a 75-year lease.
His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who has continued living with him since their 1996 divorce, will also need to find separate accommodation, the palace said.
“This step was necessary,” Buckingham Palace stated, “even though Andrew continues to deny the allegations against him. The King and Queen extend their sympathy to all victims who have suffered exploitation or abuse in any form.”
A Move Not Seen in Over a Century
This marks the first time in more than 100 years that a British royal has been stripped of the title of “Prince.” The last instance was in 1919, when Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover lost his British titles for siding with Germany during World War I.
King Charles’s decision comes amid escalating public and internal pressure to remove Andrew from royal properties and formally cut his ties with the monarchy.
Virginia Giuffre Found Dead Months After Memoir Release
In a tragic development, Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault, was found dead in April in what authorities described as an apparent suicide.
Giuffre, 41, had become a prominent advocate for victims of sexual exploitation after exposing Epstein’s sex trafficking network in 2011.
Her memoir, “No Body,” released in October 2024, detailed her harrowing experiences and legal battles. In one of her final social media posts, she mentioned she had been in an accident and feared she “might not survive for long.”
Giuffre’s Six Allegations Against Prince Andrew
In her memoir, Giuffre claimed that she met Prince Andrew in 2001 through Ghislaine Maxwell, who introduced him by saying, “Cinderella, you’re going to meet a beautiful prince.”
According to Giuffre, Andrew correctly guessed her age as 17 and remarked that his daughters were slightly younger.
She alleged three sexual encounters with Andrew — in London, New York, and on Epstein’s private Caribbean island — describing his behavior as if intimacy with her was his “birthright.”
The 2021 Settlement
In 2021, Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit in the U.S., accusing Andrew of sexual abuse. Though he denied all wrongdoing, the case was settled out of court in 2022 for a reported £12 million (around ₹125 crore).
The scandal permanently tarnished Andrew’s image, forcing him to withdraw from all royal duties and lose his military and ceremonial roles.
Still Eighth in Line to the Throne
Despite losing his royal status, Andrew remains eighth in line to the British throne by birthright. The line of succession is led by Prince William, followed by his three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — then Prince Harry and his two children, Archie and Lilibet.
Andrew’s place remains next, though he now stands as a royal in name only — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, stripped of privilege but still bound to the monarchy by blood.
