United Kingdom : Why former Prince Andrew must now live apart from the royal family

November 5th, 2025 Rédaction No Comment Destination Prince Andrew 1143 views

There is no one on this planet who is unaware of the turmoil within the British royal family. The demotion of Prince Andrew (now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor) is a direct consequence of a high-profile scandal involving his ties to American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as accusations of sexual assault against him.

Andrew’s isolation is a drastic measure taken by King Charles III to protect the reputation and stability of the British monarchy.

The Dark Affair of Jeffrey Epstein and Virginia Giuffre

The breaking point was Andrew’s close and prolonged relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The Prince was accused by Virginia Giuffre of sexually assaulting her when she was 17 years old, while she was a victim of the Epstein network.

Although Andrew denied the accusations and settled the case in a substantial financial settlement in 2022 to avoid a public trial in New York, the damage was done.

An interview Prince Andrew gave to the BBC in 2019, in which he clumsily attempted to defend himself and showed no empathy for the victims, severely damaged his public image and that of the Crown.

Following intense media and public pressure, Andrew first ended his public engagements in 2019, then lost his honorary military titles and royal patronages in 2022.

Definitive Stripping by Charles III

The final blow came from King Charles III who, in October 2025, initiated a « formal process » to strip him of his royal titles and honors, officially depriving him of his titles of Prince and Duke of York.

He is now known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

This demotion was accompanied by an order to vacate his royal residence, Royal Lodge, a 30-room mansion near Windsor Castle, and move into a private residence of the sovereign.

This residence is located on the Sandringham estate, away from London and the core of the royal family, a vast private estate in Norfolk, in eastern England, which houses numerous – and more or less spacious – properties.