🔗 Share this article

Prince Andrew is set to lose his honorary military rank as King Charles aims to draw a line under the continuing controversy involving his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Stripping of Honors In Progress

The former prince will be stripped of his military title of vice-admiral, which he was granted in 2015 and kept even after surrendering other armed forces roles in 2022.

The defense minister stated on Sunday that government officials were collaborating with the king to strip his military titles.

"Usually, the administration follows the decisions and judgments the king has made. In defence, it's precisely identical," the defense secretary said.

Further Repercussions

When questioned about Mountbatten Windsor could lose his military medals as well, the minister answered that they were "awards recognizing his military career" and added: "There's no current information on that, but similar to his naval title, we would be directed by the decisions the king makes."

Background Context

Mountbatten Windsor has been facing fresh examination over his connections with Epstein following the release of posthumous memoirs by Virginia Giuffre, who states she was forced to have sex with Mountbatten Windsor on multiple instances, including when she was a teenager.

Newly released emails show that the former prince contacted Epstein in 2010 after the financier got out from jail on charges of soliciting prostitution.

Through email exchanges made public recently, the convicted sex offender suggested that Mountbatten Windsor meet former JP Morgan executive Jes Staley, who was prohibited from the UK banking sector for life in June for misleading the watchdog about his relationship with Epstein.

Military Service

The former duke was a member of the navy for more than two decades, including as a aircraft commander during the Falklands war. After a civil case was initiated three years ago, he stopped using most of his armed forces honors but kept the rank of vice-admiral.

His military retirement pay is his sole existing means of official earnings after his service from 1979 and 2001, amounting to twenty thousand pounds annually.

Latest Changes

Buckingham Palace officially declared last week he would lose the titles of royal titles, as well as being made to leave his residence at Royal Lodge and relocate to personal housing in Sandringham.

Royal staff had worked with government employees in the government department to avoid the decision having to be taken by parliament, finally deciding that the king should abolish the dukedom entirely using his powers of royal prerogative.

While the removal of honors takes effect right away, the former prince is not expected to leave Royal Lodge until after Christmas, meaning he will not be present when the royals gather at Sandringham for the festive season.