In an unprecedented move that reshapes the modern monarchy, King Charles III has formally stripped his brother, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, of his princely titles and HRH status. This historic decision, enacted through a Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm, marks a definitive break between the disgraced royal and the institution he was born into.
The End of an Era: How the Titles Were Removed
The monumental change was made official on 3 November 2025 and publicly recorded in The Gazette, the UK's official public record, on Wednesday. The published notice explicitly stated that Andrew shall "no longer be entitled to hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of 'Royal Highness' and the titular dignity of 'Prince'".
This action, authorised by the monarch through the Royal Prerogative and undertaken with parliamentary and government approval, including consultation with the Prime Minister, leaves Andrew as a private citizen. He remains eighth in the line of succession but now faces a dramatically different role within the family structure.
A New Royal Protocol: Bowing to His Daughters
According to royal biographer Robert Hardman, this demotion in status comes with a significant and deeply personal consequence for Andrew's relationship with his daughters. As he no longer holds the rank of prince or duke, royal protocol now requires him to bow to his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who retain their HRH status.
Hardman, author of Charles III: New King, New Court, The Inside Story, suggested that Andrew is reportedly unlikely to accept this new arrangement "happily." The situation is likely to be a source of considerable dread for the former prince, particularly during public events where he will be referred to simply as 'Andrew'.
Why Beatrice and Eugenie Keep Their Titles
While Andrew faces the consequences of the scandals linked to his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, his daughters' positions remain protected. Hardman explained that Beatrice and Eugenie's titles remain intact due to their birthright as the grandchildren of a monarch, safeguarded under King George V's 1917 Letters Patent.
He emphasised that the King and the wider family have been keen to ensure that "the sins of the family do not befall them," describing the sisters as "blameless," "level-headed and very nice young women." However, they are not expected to become working royals and are considered "essentially private citizens who are related to the King and occasionally turn up at royal events," unless specifically called upon by His Majesty.
This decision follows Andrew's step back from royal duties in 2019 after allegations were made by Virginia Giuffre, which he continues to vehemently deny. The King's decisive action represents a firm commitment to modernising the monarchy and upholding its standards.
