The dramatic fall from grace of Prince Andrew reached a new low this week as he was stripped of his last remaining honours, cementing his status as a commoner. The move places him among a select group of royals who have endured the profound personal and public humiliation of losing their titles, a transition experts say is rarely handled with ease.
The Painful Adjustment to Life Without a Title
On Monday, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was formally removed from the Order of the Garter and stripped of his status as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. This followed the earlier loss of his Duke of York and Prince titles. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams described the situation as a "unique humiliation," noting that while titles may seem outdated, they hold deep personal significance for those who bear them.
Grant Harrold, a former butler to the royal family, observed that royals often see their titles as a "given right" and consequently find adjusting to life without them exceptionally difficult. He recalled a telling remark from the King, who once said, "When you acknowledge or bow or courtesy, it is not to the person, it is to the title." This mindset, experts suggest, explains why the loss cuts so deep and why bitterness can linger for decades.
A Royal Roll Call of Title Strippings
History shows that Andrew is not alone in facing this fate. The most famous precedent was King Edward VIII, who abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson. Although he was later created Duke of Windsor, his wife was deliberately denied the style 'Her Royal Highness' (HRH). Fitzwilliams explained this decision, which broke with royal practice, fostered a lifelong animosity. Edward reportedly never forgave the snub and even requested on his deathbed that Queen Elizabeth grant Wallis the coveted title, a request that was never fulfilled.
Following her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996, Princess Diana lost her HRH style. This technically meant she was required to curtsey to those who retained the title, including her own sons. Reports at the time suggested she was deeply upset, and that a young Prince William vowed to restore the honour to his mother. Despite the formal demotion, Harrold noted that the public never ceased to treat her as royalty, with many continuing to bow and curtsey, demonstrating that perceived status often outlasts official decrees.
More recently, Prince Harry and Meghan agreed not to use their HRH styles after stepping back as working royals in 2020, though they retained their Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles. Fitzwilliams argues the couple have "capably skated around" this agreement, understanding the "cachet titles have." This was highlighted when a report revealed Meghan's staff announced her as "Duchess of Sussex" upon entering a room, a moment some critics branded as "ridiculous."
What Lies Ahead for Andrew?
For Andrew, the future appears challenging. Harrold predicts he will "begrudge no longer having the royal trappings" and will find the adjustment difficult. A further complication is the future of the York dukedom itself. Fitzwilliams believes it will be "a very long time" before that title is bestowed again, as it is now inextricably linked with Andrew's disgrace, prompting local efforts to rename roads and schools associated with him.
Despite everything, Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne, and the government has indicated no plans to pass a law to remove him from the line of succession. His story now becomes a stark new chapter in the long and often painful history of royals confronting life beyond the palace walls.
