Andrew to be stripped of his royal titles and must move out of home

King's decision means former Duke of York will no longer be a prince

- Caroline Davies

Prince Andrew is to be stripped of his royal titles and will move out of his home at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, Buckingham Palace announced yesterday.

King Charles has initiated a “formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew”, who will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the palace said. It is understood the king had the support of the Prince of Wales in the decision and that Andrew did not object.

The decision follows anxiety within the royal household about the reputational risk to the monarchy caused by continual headlines concerning Andrew’s friendship with the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of sexual assault against him made by one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Giuffre.

This month the Guardian published extracts from the posthumous memoir of Giuffre, who killed herself in April at the age of 41. In the book she claimed the prince “believed that having sex with me was his birthright”.

Andrew has always denied claims he had sex with Giuffre when she was 17, and settled a civil case with her for a reported £12m with no admission of liability.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “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.