'A first step' Giuffre's family hail justice for survivors

The historic statement from Buckingham Palace stripping Andrew Mountbatten Windsor of his title is an "acknowledgment" that something happened to the late Virginia Giuffre, her family has told the Guardian.

- Neha Gohil

In its announcement on Thursday, the palace said Andrew Mountbatten Windsor - as he is now known - will also leave his mansion in Windsor, Royal Lodge, as his links to the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continue to cause controversy.

The statement concluded: "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."

Asked whether this suggested the king believes Virginia over Mountbatten Windsor, her brother, Sky Roberts, said: "Absolutely, I think that he's speaking very clearly in that statement when he says he's with survivors out there.

"It's an acknowledgment that something occurred, something has happened. There has been a shift."

Virginia's sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, said: "To put that acknowledgment out for survivors is huge. We haven't seen that from anyone and to acknowledge that there are survivors in this situation is an acknowledgment that abuse did occur.