The Gist
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The British Ministry of Defense revealed that ex-Prince Andrew still retains one final honor amid his fall from grace.
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor reportedly still has one royal military title left, despite King Charles’s plans to strip him of it earlier this month.
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A spokesperson revealed on November 28 that the process is still “ongoing” on November 28, The Times reports.
Former Prince Andrew’s fall from grace has been swift amid new revelations about his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with the disgraced royal giving up his last royal titles and privileges, stepping back from his business interests, and agreeing to vacate his longtime home at Royal Lodge. However, it has now emerged that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor—as he’s now known after being stripped of his prince and Duke of York titles by King Charles—still has one prestigious royal title left, against his older brother’s wishes.
Andrew still retains one final military honor amid the fallout of his latest scandal, according to British defense chiefs. The former Duke of York is still the Vice Admiral of the Royal Navy, a military rank he was given by the late Queen Elizabeth in 2015 for his 55th birthday. The ex-prince—who served in the Royal Navy for 22 years including as a pilot in the Falklands War and a commander for the vessel HMS Cottesmore—was set to attain an admiral title in 2020 for his 60th birthday. However, the royal family decided against the upgrade amid his infamous 2019 Newsnight interview, where he first opened up about his relationship with Epstein. Andrew was stripped of all other military titles in 2022.
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Prince Andrew starts a new job as a Royal Navy Helicopter Pilot on board HMS Brazen, Plymouth
When the fallen HRH was relieved of the rest of his princely honors in a statement delivered from Buckingham Palace on October 30, his Vice Admiral rank was also on the chopping block. Earlier this month, defense secretary John Healy told the BBC that the government was “working to remove” the prestigious honor at the behest of King Charles. “This is a move that’s right. It’s a move the King has indicated we should take, and we’re working on that at the moment,” he shared at the time.
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Prince Andrew, Duke of York marches with the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm which was the division he served in during the war, at the Falklands Veterans Parade in Horse Guards Parade on June 17, 2007
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King Charles and Prince Andrew after attending the Garter service at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, in south-east England, 18 June 2007
However, according to The Times, the Ministry of Defense revealed on November 28 that the process (which would be conducted by the British government) is still “ongoing.” They didn’t reveal the reason for the delay, but a spokesperson shared, “Defense continues to act in line with His Majesty’s intent regarding the process to remove the style, titles and honors of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.”
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