Royal biographer Andrew Lownie has suggested that more former staff members are now stepping forward with information following Prince Andrew’s loss of his remaining royal titles.
On Thursday evening, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the disgraced Duke is set to lose the “Prince” prefix from his name as public pressure mounts over his long-standing ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In a rare and strongly worded statement, the Palace announced that formal proceedings had begun to remove all of Andrew’s remaining honours and to relocate him from his Windsor residence, Royal Lodge. The 65-year-old had been living at the estate under what’s described as a peppercorn rent agreement — a symbolic arrangement where rent is technically paid but may amount to only a few pounds per year.
The announcement came shortly after Andrew formally relinquished his title as Duke of York on October 17, according to The Mirror.
Speaking on the Palace Confidential programme about the escalating crisis, royal biographer Andrew Lownie said that additional individuals — including senior members of Andrew’s former staff — are now coming forward with new claims.
“I’m getting two or three people a day coming forward, and quite senior people on his staff, for example, senior officials,” Lownie explained. “I think people can see the way the story’s going. Perhaps they’re re-examining their consciences, and they want to be on the right side of history.
“I’m also hearing stories from journalists who are getting tip-offs from, for example, the Cabinet Office. Clearly, the view is that Andrew is finished — that he can be thrown under the bus, and this is the best way to protect the rest of them.”
Following the statement, reports suggest that King Charles is now sending Royal Warrants to the Lord Chancellor to formally strip Andrew of his “Prince” title and the style of “His Royal Highness.” According to The Guardian, the monarch also intends to have Andrew’s dukedom removed from the official peerage roll.
Once these measures take effect, Andrew will reportedly be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the Royal Family confirmed.
In the Palace’s statement, officials also addressed the issue of his residence, saying: “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 statement concluded on a solemn note: “These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him. 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.”
