King Charles Strips Prince Andrew of Titles Amid Scandal

King Charles III has taken the unprecedented step of stripping his brother, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, of his prince title and other royal honors amid ongoing fallout from sexual assault allegations linked to Jeffrey Epstein. This decision marks a significant departure from the approach of their late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who was known to protect Andrew despite his controversies, as noted by royal author Christopher Andersen. Alongside the removal of his titles, Andrew has been served notice to vacate Royal Lodge, where he and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson have lived rent-free under a lease arrangement, with plans for Andrew to move to a private residence on the Sandringham Estate. The move has been described as painful for King Charles, reflecting both familial loyalty and the need to uphold the monarchy's integrity in light of Andrew's scandalous reputation and recent revelations. Buckingham Palace emphasized the necessity of these actions and expressed sympathy towards abuse victims, highlighting Andrew's failure to do so publicly. This decisive action by King Charles sets a new precedent for royal accountability and marks a stark contrast to Queen Elizabeth II's protective stance towards her son.