Need to know:
- Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor renounced his royal titles following mounting pressure from the public due to his connection with the late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
- King Charles then officially stripped him of his royal titles, knighthoods, and estates.
- Since then, Andrew has been losing more titles, including most recently his Freedom of the City of London in July 2026.
- Despite losing his titles, the former royal will still receive one major honour.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor officially renounced his royal titles, including the Duke of York, on October 24, 2025, UK time.
Andrew released a statement saying that the decision had been made after discussing the matter with his brother, King Charles, as well as his wider immediate family. However, King Charles completely stripped Andrew of his royal titles later.
And, around 9 pm AEST on 19 February 2026, news broke from the UK that Andrew was arrested. For more details on his arrest, click here, or continue scrolling to read.
Born February 19, 1960, Prince Andrew is the third child (and second son) of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
The first child born to a reigning British monarch since 1857, Prince Andrew was granted the title of The Duke of York upon his marriage to Sarah Ferguson in 1986. They would divorce in 1996.
During their marriage, the royal couple welcomed two children: Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Prince Andrew is a three-time grandfather to August and Ernest (the sons of Princess Eugenie and husband, Jack Brooksbank) and Sienna (daughter of Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi).
Having served in the UK’s Royal Navy from 1979 to 2001, he was then a roving UK trade ambassador until 2011.
In 2019, Andrew stepped back from public duties. He stated this was due to “the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein.”
Then, on January 13, 2022, he returned his military affiliations and Royal patronages to The Queen, in addition to continuing not to undertake any public duties.
As per Andrew’s statement, he has given up his title of Duke of York. This effectively means that Sarah Ferguson will also no longer be known as the Duchess of York.
In addition, he has given up his knighthoods.
Prior to this announcement, Andrew held a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO). He also held a membership in the Order of the Garter. The Order of the Garter is the most senior and the oldest British Order of Chivalry.
As the son of Queen Elizabeth II, he is still technically a royal. But King Charles has officially stripped Andrew of his HRH style and prince title.
“The king has been pleased by letters patent under the great seal of the realm dated 3 November 2025 to declare that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor shall no longer be entitled to hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of ‘royal highness’ and the titular dignity of ‘prince’,” an entry in the Gazette read, as per The Guardian.
Then, close to a year after he first lost his titles, Andrew is being stripped of his Freedom of the City of London Award. He received the historical honour in 2021 as his father, Prince Philip, was a freeman.
As reported by Nine, the City of London Corporation asked Andrew to relinquish the award, but he didn’t, and it is now in the process of removing the award from him. However, there is no process in place to do this, as they haven’t had to implement a removal before.
“We are developing a process that would allow the Freedom of the City of London to be removed where appropriate, having determined that there is currently no effective lawful mechanism to do so,” a spokesperson said. “If elected Members approve the new process, they will then consider whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Freedom should be removed.”
However, despite losing his titles and honours, the former prince will still receive a royal funeral. In a report from the Daily Mail, the Duke of York is on a list that will receive a royal-level funeral and be interred with his royal family members in Frogmore.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s statement
“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.
“I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.
“I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.
“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further.
“I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me.
“As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
