King Charles’ Friend Reveals The Line Andrew Didn't Want in Palace’s Statement About His Titles
Trigger Warning: This article contains themes of sexual assault that some readers may find distressing.
After years of scandal, King Charles finally took a firm stance on his disgraced younger brother and stripped him of his remaining titles, including 'Prince.' He would now be simply known as ‘Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.’ Buckingham Palace, on October 30, confirmed that the King has initiated the formal process of removing his honors and titles. It also expressed sympathy for the victims of abuse, something that had never been done in any official royal communication involving the disgraced royal.
According to The Times, Andrew had ‘routinely refused’ to approve any statements that included references to victims. Since his infamous 2019 Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, every Palace communication concerning him has required his approval, which he withheld whenever survivors were mentioned. Courtiers, weary of the reputational strain on the Crown, reportedly grew frustrated by the repeated objections, which delayed key announcements. Against this backdrop, the King’s announcement this time around has been seen as a symbolic move, one that was even applauded by Virginia Giuffre’s family.
Commenting on the same, a friend of the King spilled, "There has long been a sense from the family that the voices of the victims needed to be heard in these pronouncements, because they feature so heavily in this saga and because there is no credible way the Queen and the Duchess of Edinburgh can continue to do the work they do in the areas of sexual abuse if they can't point to that. Now, the King has lost his patience: you can see this statement is no longer a statement by committee, it’s a statement from the King.” The move showcased a new kind of leadership, one that prioritized responsibility more than brotherly affection.
The royal reckoning follows renewed attention on Mountbatten Windsor’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl. A leaked 2011 email also recently showed that the former Prince had remained in contact with Epstein after 2010, despite claiming otherwise in his Newsnight interview. The email partly read, "We are in this together." This had people questioning Mountbatten Windsor's version of events and increased demands for transparency within the royal family.
Sarah Ferguson also found herself in hot water when her unearthed email showed her apologizing to her ‘supreme friend’ Epstein after condemning him in public. She later explained that she had sent those emails to protect her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, from Epstein’s threats to sue her for defamation. Still, her apology did little to calm the growing public anger. Now, both Mountbatten Windsor and Ferguson face uncertain futures. They have been asked to vacate Royal Lodge, their shared home since the early 2000s.
As per reports, the former Prince is expected to move to a private accommodation on the Sandringham estate, while his ex-wife has been asked to make her own living arrangements. The Yorks, once described as ‘the happiest divorced couple,’ seem to be entering a far less harmonious chapter of their lives.
If you are being subjected to sexual assault, or know of anyone who is, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673)