Prince Andrew’s ex-wife forced to move out of Royal Lodge as he is stripped of title

Friday, 31 October 2025

King Charles III has stripped his brother Prince Andrew of his remaining royal titles and ordered him to leave his residence at Royal Lodge. The move follows public pressure after renewed attention on Andrew’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Andrew has been stripped of his 'prince' title and will be now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. He will also move out of Royal Lodge along with his ex-wife.

“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,” a statement from Buckingham Palace read.

His lease on Royal Lodge provided him with legal protection to continue in residence but a formal notice was served to surrender the lease and “he will move to alternative private accommodation”.

The Royal Lodge is a publicly owned home where Andrew lives effectively rent-free, the BBC said.

It is understood that Sarah Ferguson, Andrew's ex-wife, will also move out of Royal Lodge and will make her own living arrangements, the BBC has reported.

Ferguson, 66, is the mother of Andrew's two children, the princesses Beatrice and Eugenie who will retain their titles, as they are the daughters of the son of a Sovereign, BBC reports.

Prince Andrew, foreground, walks in the procession ahead of Britain’s Prince Philip's funeral at Windsor Castle, in 2021.

Although Ferguson and Andrew divorced in 1996, they maintain a close relationship and Ferguson remained at Royal Lodge with her ex-husband.

Until this month, Ferguson kept the title Sarah, Duchess of York - but she reverted to her maiden name of Ferguson after Andrew was stripped of his Duke of York title.

Buckingham Palace says censures necessary

Princess Eugenie of York, Princess Beatrice of York and Prince Andrew, Duke of York arrive for the annual Trooping The Colour parade, 2017, in London.

Buckingham Palace said the censures in place were deemed necessary, “notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him”.

“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.”

King Charles had been facing mounting public pressure to settle his brother’s living arrangements following renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

Just recently the BBC reported Prince Andrew had hosted Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Harvey Weinstein at the Royal Lodge in 2006.

The visit was a part of his daughter Beatrice’s masked ball party for her 18th birthday, just two months after a US arrest warrant was issued for Epstein following the assault of a minor.

Respected British historian and author Andrew Lownie said this isn't over yet.

'They’re finally getting ahead of the story, but this isn’t the end of it,' Lownie, who earlier this year published the bestseller Entitled: The rise and fall of the House of York, told the BBC.

Lownie who is best known for his biographies on the British royals said the Palace is 'finally taking some decisive action' - but it 'won’t completely satisfy the public disquiet'.

Despite being stripped of his title, Andrew remains eighth in line for the throne.

Andrew recently said he would no longer using his Duke of York title

Just recently he said he would no longer be using his Duke of York title “or the honours which have been conferred upon me'.

“In discussion with the King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.”

The disgraced royal had begun retreating from public life after a disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019, removing his patronages and suspending his public duties.

More to come.