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King Charles’ decision to banish his brother Andrew from the monarchy and the 30-room mansion where he had lived for more than 20 years was as dramatic as it was sudden.
It’s the ultimate humiliation for the former prince, now 65, known for enjoying the trappings and privileges of royal life. He moves from Royal Lodge, a vast mansion in the heart of the Windsor estate on the outskirts of London, and is exiled to the countryside to live in obscurity.
The monarchy had been under intense pressure to resolve the Andrews scandal amid renewed public anger over his relationship with the late convicted Jeffrey Epstein, which intensified with the release of sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir. Mr Andrew has repeatedly denied the charges against him.
Two weeks ago, Andrew renounced the use of his title and honor, more than five years after stepping down from the front line of the royal family. He said he was “putting my duty to my family and country first,” but that did little to stem the snowballing scandal.
Then, on Thursday evening, a blunt bombshell announcement came from Buckingham Palace. Andrew loses his title as prince and immediately becomes a commoner, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
The palace statement was unambiguous. The decision was the King’s, and Andrew had no choice in the matter (although it is understood that Andrew did not object to his brother’s actions). Notable in this statement is its expression of solidarity with victims of abuse.
The importance of Charles’ actions Thursday cannot be overstated. Not since the abdication crisis of 1936 has there been such a public ouster of a senior British monarch.
This decision was undoubtedly difficult. And it was very personal, given the personal family relationships at play. But the monarch had no choice. Andrew’s controversy dogged his family for years, with the publication of his accuser’s posthumous memoir the final straw. The negotiations to reach this stage would have been difficult, but the monarch had no choice but to activate damage control mode.
The public was not the only one to express anger and dissatisfaction. There were also growing calls for Andrew to appear before a parliamentary committee. Perhaps this move will alleviate that particular humiliation.
Royal historian Kate Williams said the king’s decision was “unprecedented”.
“This is a big move from the royal family. Just recently, days before Ms. Giuffre’s memoir was published, the king announced that Andrew would step down from the title of Duke of York. But that was not enough for public opinion,” she said.
“There have been people in the past who have lost the title of prince or princess. Henry VIII (r. 1509-1547) said his daughters were no longer legitimate after he annulled the marriage of their mother, Catherine of Aragon, to Anne Boleyn, but later changed his mind.”
She also pointed to Prince Charles Edward, one of Queen Victoria’s grandsons, who was stripped of his title Duke of Albany by Parliament in 1917 after fighting for Germany in World War I. But the situation was different, Williams said, as Prince Andrew was accused of a serious error in judgment.
The king’s move was welcomed by many British politicians. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “The King clearly feels this is the right decision for the Royal Family,” but added that it “must have been very difficult” to act against his brother.
The leader of the centrist Liberal Democrats said Mr Andrew’s situation had become “completely intolerable, bringing shame to his office and shame to the country”.
He added: “This is an important step toward rebuilding trust in our institutions and putting an end to this entire unfortunate saga.”
For weeks, it felt like announcements were being made in a hurry, and it wasn’t just a matter of if, it was a matter of when.
Royal sources told CNN that the king was trying to act quickly in response to recent developments, but needed time to consult legal and constitutional experts.
It is also understood that the King took action after considering his brother’s grave error in judgment and has the support of a wide range of family members, including Prince William.
This statement was uncompromising. “These charges are deemed necessary despite the fact that he continues to deny the charges against him,” the newspaper said.
For many people in this country, and certainly those who criticize the royal family, these moves may not be enough to repair the monarchy’s tarnished reputation. For some, stripping Andrew of his status as a prince is just the limit. Other critics say the pressure for some accountability needs to continue as the family has protected Andrew over the years.
Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, said in response to the Palace’s announcement: “Losing a silly title is not the answer to very serious accusations of sexual misconduct and public corruption.”
“This isn’t about William and Charles taking a hard line. It’s about William and Charles defending their position by distancing themselves from Andrew as much as possible,” Smith added. “We need to see Andrew face justice because we need to know that the royal family is not above the law.”
Although Prince Andrew has been stripped of his title, he remains eighth in line to the throne. A royal source told CNN that Prince Charles will be given a house on the royal estate at Sandringham and will also receive income from Prince Charles.
Prince Andrew has no plans to move from his Windsor estate to Sandringham, Norfolk, until after the Christmas holidays, a royal source said. Although the move will take place as soon as practicable, notification of the move, surrender of the lease, and other practical formalities may take time.
Sandringham is traditionally a gathering place for the royal family during the Christmas season, so moving in the new year may also avoid any potential awkwardness during the holidays. It was previously announced that Andrew would be excluded from Christmas celebrations with the rest of the Windsor family.
Ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who has lived with Andrew at Royal Lodge for the past 20 years, is also expected to move and is understood to be making her own arrangements.
The two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their titles as daughters of the sovereign’s son, in accordance with a directive issued by King George V in 1917.
It is not yet clear whether the king’s actions will be enough to convince the public that the situation has been resolved, but Prince Charles appears to be doing the best he can within his royal prerogatives.
