UK welcomes king's move to strip Andrew of royal titles

King Charles Ill's historic decision to strip his brother Andrew of his royal titles and effectively exile him won widespread backing Friday, but failed to silence calls for further action and greater oversight of the monarchy.

- 

The king's move to axe Andrew's prince title - the first such action since 1919 -- is the latest humiliating fallout for the scandal-plagued royal over his links to convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Charles also announced on Thursday he was ousting his younger brother from his longtime home on Windsor Castle's sprawling grounds, after renewed accusations from one of Epstein's main accusers, Virginia Giuffre.

The posthumous publication of her memoir last week, reiterating in shocking detail allegations she was trafficked to have sex with Andrew three times, including twice when she was 17, sparked renewed public outcry.

'It's a long time coming,' retired teacher Pam Williams, an American living in Britain since 1972, told AFP outside Buckingham Palace, referring to Charles's decision.

'Maybe he should have done it a long time ago. But well done for doing it now.' The public mood was highlighted when the audience at a live taping of the BBC's flagship political debate programme 'Question Time' broke into applause when the news was announced.