Prince Andrew has been stripped of his ‘prince’ title and will leave his Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge, following renewed scrutiny over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement on Thursday night, Buckingham Palace announced that the King’s brother will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, confirming that “a formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew” has been initiated.

Earlier this month, Andrew relinquished his other royal titles, including Duke of York, amid mounting questions about his private life.

The development comes after a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, published earlier this month, reiterated allegations that as a teenager she had sex with Prince Andrew on three occasions — claims he has always denied. Giuffre took her own life earlier this year.

Reacting to the news, Giuffre’s family said she “brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.”

As part of Thursday’s announcement, the Palace said “formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease” on Royal Lodge, where Andrew has lived since 2004. He will move into private accommodation on the Sandringham Estate, which is understood to be funded privately by King Charles.

These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the statement read, adding that the Palace expresses its support for victims of any and all forms of abuse.

Andrew’s daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, will retain their royal titles, and he remains eighth in line to the throne. His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson will also move out of Royal Lodge and has reverted to her maiden name after Andrew gave up the Duke of York title earlier this month.

Government sources confirmed that ministers were consulted on the decision to strip Andrew of his prince title and supported the move.

Reacting on BBC Question Time, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the decision sent a “very powerful message to the victims of grooming and sex offences,” describing it as “a huge development and a big step for the King to take.”

The decision follows weeks of growing pressure on the Royal Family amid resurfaced allegations and questions about Andrew’s finances.

Earlier this month, emails from 2011 emerged showing Andrew in contact with Epstein months after he claimed to have ended their friendship. Meanwhile, public scrutiny intensified over how Andrew could afford his lavish residence despite not being a working royal.

Andrew’s 75-year lease on the Grade II-listed Royal Lodge, signed in 2003 with the Crown Estate, allowed him to make upfront payments totalling over £8 million in lieu of rent, including renovation costs. According to a National Audit Office report, this arrangement effectively bought him out of annual rent obligations for the duration of the lease.

Adding to the controversy, reports this week revealed that Andrew hosted Epstein at Royal Lodge in 2006 during his daughter Beatrice’s birthday celebrations — two months after a US arrest warrant had been issued for Epstein for the sexual assault of a minor. Andrew did not respond to requests for comment.

For Buckingham Palace, Thursday’s announcement marks an attempt to draw a line under the scandals surrounding the former prince — now simply Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

#BBC