Virginia Giuffre's family celebrates as Andrew loses 'prince' title

Friday, 31 October 2025 06:26

"Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family, brought down a British prince."

Prince Andrew will be stripped of his "prince" title and move out of the Royal Lodge, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The process to officially remove the 65-year-old's remaining royal titles is now underway and he will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

You can read the full statement from the palace below.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York, looks round as he leaves after attending the Easter Matins Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, England, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool)

It is the latest move from the palace, weeks after it was announced Andrew would no longer use his Duke of York title following renewed scrutiny on his ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew will leave the Royal Lodge and move to Sandringham, in Norfolk, one of two privately owned residences by King Charles.

His two daughters, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, will retain their titles, as they are the daughters of the son of a Sovereign, in line with King George V's Letters Patent of 1917.

Andrew has always strenuously denied the allegations made against him.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 16: Prince Andrew, Duke of York, King Charles III and Prince William, Prince of Wales attend the Funeral of the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral on September 16, 2025 in London, England. Katharine, Duchess of Kent was married to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. She died on September 4 at the age of 92 at Kensington Palace surrounded by her family. Having converted to Catholicism in 1994, her funeral takes place at Westminste

The family of Virginia Giuffre, the woman who alleged Andrew had sex with her several times when she was a teenager - a claim Andrew has strenuously denied - released a statement in support of the prince being stripped of his titles.

"Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family, brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage," Giuffre's brother Skye Roberts and sister-in-law Amanda told the BBC.

"Virginia Roberts Giuffre, our sister, a child when she was sexually assaulted by Andrew, never stopped fighting for accountability for what had happened to her and to countless other survivors like her.

"Today, she declares victory. We, her family, along with her survivor sisters, continue Virginia's battle and will not rest until the same accountability applies to all of the abusers and abettors connected to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell."

The photograph appearing to show Prince Andrew with Virginia Roberts Giuffre and, in the background, Ghislaine Maxwell who has repeated her claims the image is a fake.

Giuffre died by suicide in April this year at her home in Western Australia.

Her posthumous memoir Nobody's Girl, which detailed a series of allegations against Andrew and New York financier Jeffrey Epstein, was published last week.

Andrew's new home will be one of the properties at Sandringham, the Norfolk estate where the royals traditionally celebrate Christmas.

It is understood his future accommodation will be privately funded by King Charles.

Read the full statement from Buckingham Palace

His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.

Prince 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.

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."

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