It was a day of solemn reflection — but what unfolded outside Westminster Cathedral seemed to speak volumes about a deeper royal rift.
Just weeks before losing his titles and royal residence, Prince Andrew appeared to experience a quiet but clear distancing from his family — most notably from Prince William — during the Duchess of Kent’s funeral.
As the family stood on the steps after the service, Andrew tried to make light conversation with his nephew.
But in a moment caught on camera, William’s expression told another story — one of discomfort and detachment.
It was, many royal watchers say, the first visible sign of the cold front now formalized by Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace Confirms Andrew Will No Longer Be Known as Prince
Late on Thursday night, Buckingham Palace released a strikingly formal statement confirming that Andrew’s royal titles had officially been removed.
From now on, he will be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
Sources close to the Prince and Princess of Wales revealed that both fully support the King’s decision.
“These censures are deemed necessary,” the palace statement read, signaling that this move was both deliberate and decisive.
The palace also confirmed that Andrew’s lease on his 30-room mansion, Royal Lodge, has ended — effectively forcing him to vacate the property.
Though the decision reportedly came from King Charles alone, insiders say the process had been “in motion for some time” and was handled with utmost care to avoid further public fallout.
Behind the Decision: A Long-Brewing Family Crisis
Royal insiders told The Mail on Sunday that William and Kate had planned to move into their “forever home” at Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park and wanted Andrew gone before Bonfire Night.
Sources say William, who has adopted a far more pragmatic tone than his father, saw Andrew as a “reputational risk” to the monarchy.
Royal biographer Andrew Lownie commented that William is “more ruthless” than the King — a man unwilling to let family ties override public duty.
The official demotion comes after Andrew’s own statement on October 17, when he publicly renounced his title as the Duke of York.
His decision followed growing outrage over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and the renewed scrutiny triggered by Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir.
The Palace Moves Swiftly to Remove Royal Privileges
According to palace insiders, King Charles has already begun the formal process of stripping Andrew’s remaining honors.
Royal Warrants are being sent to remove his dukedom from the Peerage Roll, along with the title of “Prince” and the style of “His Royal Highness.”
The name change is effective immediately. Andrew is expected to relocate to private accommodation on the Sandringham estate, with financial support provided discreetly by the King.
What Happens to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
Despite their father’s fall from grace, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will retain their royal titles.
The palace emphasized that the King remains protective of his nieces and “would not have wanted to sign off on anything that would impact them.”
Their honors remain valid under King George V’s 1917 Letters Patent, ensuring that the sisters continue as “Her Royal Highnesses.”
A Family Struggling to Contain Reputational Damage
This latest announcement follows the King’s firm warning last week that he would strip Andrew’s titles if his younger brother refused to “see sense.”
Sources close to the palace described Charles as deeply frustrated with Andrew’s refusal to show contrition, calling his attitude “intolerable.”
The tension intensified with the release of Giuffre’s memoir, Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, completed before her death earlier this year.
Virginia Giuffre’s Explosive Memoir Rekindles Public Outrage
Giuffre’s 400-page book delves into her years as a victim of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s trafficking network.
In its most explosive claims, she accuses Andrew of viewing sex as his “birthright” and recalls him allegedly thanking her “in a clipped British accent” after their first encounter when she was just 17.
While Andrew continues to deny all allegations, the memoir has reignited public anger and placed fresh pressure on the monarchy to distance itself further from the disgraced royal.
A New Phase for the Monarchy and a Quiet Exile for Andrew
The developments mark the most definitive step yet in King Charles’s mission to protect the Crown’s integrity — even if it means publicly sidelining his own brother.
Andrew, once a high-profile royal, now faces a life of quiet retreat under his civilian name, with few public allies left.
The message from the Palace is clear: accountability and preservation of the monarchy come first — no matter who stands in the way.