Prince Andrew Is Being Stripped Of His "Prince" Title But Still Denies Allegations Against Him

Buckingham Palace on Thursday announced that it is removing the “prince” title from Prince Andrew.

“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,” the palace said in a statement.

Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. 

“His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence,” the palace said of Andrew’s current residence, which he shares with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. “Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.”

“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.” 

Earlier this month, the royal gave up his Duke of York title and other honors after more allegations about his connection to Jeffrey Epstein emerged. 

“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,” Andrew said in a statement at the time.

“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.” 

Andrew previously stepped back from royal duties for the “foreseeable future” in 2019, after he willingly participated in a disastrous ― and now infamous ― interview with BBC Newsnight.

The prince attempted to distance himself from his friend Epstein and said that he had never met Virginia Giuffre, who accused the royal of sexually assaulting and abusing her when she was a minor in 2001.

Giuffre, who died by suicide in 2025, filed a civil case against the royal under the Child Victims Act in August 2021. The lawsuit alleged Andrew sexually assaulted Giuffre three times, and was later settled out of court. 

After the case was filed, Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages were officially stripped by Buckingham Palace. 

“The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen,” the palace said at the time.

While the move to strip Andrew of his “prince” title is monumental by royal family standards, some ― like Graham Smith, CEO of the anti-monarchy group, Republic ― are saying that it “isn’t enough.” 

“This is a man who has been accused of sexual assault and corruption. He should be questioned and investigated by the police. This is about justice, not titles,” Smith said in a statement on Friday.

“He’s also being moved from the Royal Lodge to a similarly lavish property in Sandringham. How is moving from one mansion to another in any way a punishment?” Smith asked. “This is an insult to sexual abuse victims and an insult to the public. More needs to be done.”

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.