UK residents react as Prince Andrew is stripped of royal titles
Residents and royalists in the U.K. reacts to Prince Andrew losing his royal titles and residence as King Charles III acts on Epstein scandal fallout.
As the former Prince Andrew exits his royal residence, Queen Elizabeth II‘s beloved corgis will still have a home.
In a statement provided to The Independent on Oct. 31, Buckingham Palace said the late queen’s corgis, Muick and Sandy, “will remain with the family,” without clarifying which family member will care for them.
In 2022, a representative for Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, confirmed that the pair would care for Queen Elizabeth II’s corgis after she died that September at age 96.
The update comes after Buckingham Palace confirmed in an Oct. 30 statement that King Charles III has started the process of removing the style, titles and honors of the former Prince Andrew, who has come under scrutiny in recent years for his past association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor going forward, and he will also leave his royal residence at the Royal Lodge, where he and his family had been living since 2004. Under the rental agreement, Andrew and his family were previously allowed to remain there until 2078.
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” Buckingham Palace said. “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.”
Andrew previously announced in 2019 that he would step back from public duties amid backlash over his past friendship with Epstein. On Oct. 17, Andrew confirmed he would no longer use his royal titles.
“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,” Andrew said.
Andrew is set to move to a property on the private Sandringham estate. According to the palace, “any future accommodation will be privately funded by” Andrew’s brother, King Charles.
Contributing: Anthony Robledo and Edward Segarra, USA TODAY