In an unprecedented and decisive action, King Charles has effectively ended Prince Andrew’s royal tenure by revoking all his official titles. This includes stripping him of the prestigious designations of “Prince” and “His Royal Highness.” On Thursday, October 30, Buckingham Palace confirmed this historic decision, which represents a significant step in severing the monarchy’s ties with Andrew following years of controversial scrutiny.

Buckingham Palace released a statement saying, “His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.” Henceforth, he will be referred to simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

This decision impacts the 65-year-old Duke of York profoundly, as he will forfeit all his lifelong honors, including his membership in the esteemed Order of the Garter and the Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order. Additionally, he will lose his long-standing residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor, a home he has cherished for decades.

The palace elaborated, “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.” Despite these drastic measures, the palace acknowledged that Andrew continues to refute the allegations against him, but they emphasized that such actions were necessary.

“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,” the palace said. “These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.”

The statement concluded with a message of support for victims of abuse: “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.”

According to People, the decision was made solely by King Charles using his Royal Prerogative — the monarch’s authority to revoke or grant royal titles without the approval of Parliament. Palace insiders told the outlet that the decision was fully supported by the royal family, including Prince William, and came after what the King reportedly viewed as “serious lapses in judgment” on Andrew’s part.

Andrew has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct and wrongdoing, but his reputation was severely damaged following his association with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He stepped back from royal duties in 2019 and largely retreated from public life, but until now, he had retained his royal styling and titles.

The last time a member of the British royal family was formally stripped of titles was more than a century ago, under the Titles Deprivation Act of 1917, when Prince Ernest Augustus — a German-born British prince — lost his honors for swearing allegiance to Germany during World War I. Even King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne in 1936, was not stripped of his royal title but instead granted the title Duke of Windsor by his brother, King George VI.

Prince Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their titles as grandchildren of a monarch.