Former Prince Andrew Faces Removal of Last Honorary Military Title Amid Epstein Scandal
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is on the verge of being stripped of his last honorary military title as the British royals continue to distance themselves from King Charles III’s younger brother due to his links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision comes after Mountbatten Windsor’s historical ties to Epstein have made him a pariah figure, with revelations of his connections to the disgraced financier sparking widespread criticism.
“We’ve seen Andrew surrender the military positions that he’s had and we’re looking now at the one remaining position he has, which is the honorary vice admiral position, and we’ve got a process underway for that” to be removed, Defense Secretary John Healey told Britain’s Sky News on Sunday. This move is reportedly supported by King Charles III, who has indicated that the removal of the title is necessary.
Mountbatten Windsor’s Ties to Epstein
Mountbatten Windsor is the late Queen Elizabeth II’s third child and spent decades in public life as a working member of the royal family. However, his historical ties to Epstein have led to a significant backlash, with many calling for him to be held accountable. In 2016, he was named in a civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, who alleged that Epstein paid her to have sex with the former prince on several occasions. Mountbatten Windsor has repeatedly denied the claims, but he settled the case out of court with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed sum.
Consequences for Mountbatten Windsor
The settlement with Giuffre failed to alleviate criticism of the former prince, with new information continuing to emerge about his historic connections to Epstein. In a 2019 interview with the BBC’s Newsnight, Mountbatten Windsor defended his ties to the disgraced financier, sparking further backlash. As a result, the royal family has been under pressure to intervene, with King Charles III announcing last week that his younger brother would be deprived of the title of prince and told to leave his 30-room, tax-payer-funded Royal Lodge home in Windsor.
One of the few titles Mountbatten Windsor still holds is honorary Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy, which he received on his 55th birthday in 2015. The process to remove this title is currently underway, although it is unclear how long it may take. The former prince had a 22-year career in the Royal Navy, including serving as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War and commanding the anti-mine vessel HMS Cottesmore.
International Reaction
President Trump recently weighed in on the scandal, telling CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell that “it’s a terrible thing that’s happened” to the royal family. He described the situation as “tragic” and expressed sympathy for the family. The royal family has been contacted for comment on the pending removal of the former prince’s Royal Naval title.
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