Andrew gives up 'Prince' and Duke of York titles
Amid renewed Epstein revelations and the death of his accuser Virginia Giuffre, Andrew is stripped of the style 'Prince' and 'Royal Highness' and ceases using the Duke of York title, becoming 'Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor' — the most severe royal demotion in generations.
In the autumn of 2025, mounting Epstein revelations — and the death that April of Virginia Giuffre, whose accusations had defined Andrew’s disgrace — pushed Buckingham Palace to take steps once considered unthinkable for a son of the late Queen.
The Steps
On October 17, 2025, Andrew announced he would stop using the title Duke of York and his other honors, saying the “continued accusations” distracted from the work of the royal family. On October 30, the Palace confirmed he would be known simply as “Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.” Days later, the London Gazette published notice that King Charles III had begun a formal process, by Letters Patent dated November 3, to strip Andrew of the style “Royal Highness” and the dignity of “Prince.” He also agreed to vacate Royal Lodge, the Windsor mansion he had occupied for two decades.
What Remained
The demotion was sweeping but not total. Because a dukedom is a hereditary peerage, Andrew legally remained Duke of York unless and until Parliament passed legislation to remove it — a step lawmakers in the U.K. and across the Commonwealth, including New Zealand, began to debate. He also remained, for the time being, in the line of succession.
A Prelude
The loss of his titles marked the collapse of Andrew’s public standing, but it did not resolve the underlying questions about his conduct. Within months, the focus shifted from his honors to his potential criminal liability: in February 2026, after documents indicated he had shared confidential government information with Epstein during his years as a trade envoy, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested — the first serving or former senior royal taken into custody in centuries.