The family of Virginia Giuffre said she had “brought down a prince” after Prince Andrew, now Andrew Mountbatten, had his Windsor public life as a royal effectively ended.
The King took the dramatic decision to formally strip his brother of his Prince and Duke of York titles and HRH style, while Andrew has also agreed to leave the Royal Lodge in Windsor.
The disgraced royal, whose friendship with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein led to his downfall, will effectively have the status of a commoner and will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
The Artist formerly known as Prince will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor
Survivors of abuse always deserve accountability & that doesn’t end with their alleged abusers getting a change of name
Meanwhile, let’s see the #EpsteinFiles pic.twitter.com/ReCBy6iBd5— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) October 30, 2025
The monarchy was coming under increasing pressure to resolve the issues around Andrew, foremost his property arrangements, amid growing calls for him to give up Royal Lodge after it emerged he was paying a “peppercorn” rent.
As the eyes of the world remain fixed on the 30-bedroom mansion, it is unclear when Andrew will leave.
He is to move into an undisclosed private residence on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk as soon as practicable, it is understood.
Andrew had tainted the reputation of the royal family with his association with Epstein and, for many years, was dogged by allegations he sexually abused Ms Giuffre, who took her own life in April, after the financier trafficked her.
He has strenuously denied the allegations.
In a statement given to the BBC, Ms Giuffre’s family said she had “never stopped fighting for accountability”.
It said: “Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.
“Virginia Roberts Giuffre, our sister, a child when she was sexually assaulted by Andrew, never stopped fighting for accountability for what had happened to her and countless other survivors like her.
“Today, she declares a victory. We, her family, along with her survivor sisters, continue Virginia’s battle and will not rest until the same accountability applies to all of her abusers and abetters, connected to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Ms Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, thanked the King for the Buckingham Palace statement that mentioned “thoughts and utmost sympathies” with “victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse”.
He added: “But it’s not enough, it’s not enough, we have to have some sort of investigation that goes further into this.
“I mean, he’s (Andrew) still walking around a free man. I commend the King, I think he’s doing an amazing job as a world leader, setting a precedent, but we need to take it one more step further: he (Andrew) needs to be behind bars, period.”
In an interview with US network CNN early on Thursday, Mr Roberts said: “(Virginia) always said ‘only one of us is telling the truth and I know that’s me’. And I think there’s a big sense of vindication for her, not just from the general public but from the King himself.
“This is a very vindicating moment for us and I wish she was here to share this with us.”
It is understood that the King took the unprecedented move in light of the serious lapses in judgment his brother made and Charles was supported in his decision by the royal family, including the Prince of Wales, with Andrew not objecting.
Recommended reading:
Prince Andrew to lose 'Prince' title, Buckingham Palace says
When will Andrew move out of Windsor residence?
Key events leading to Prince Andrew’s downfall
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew.
“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.
“Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation. These censures are 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.”
Share