The walls of Windsor are closing in on Prince Andrew — or rather, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as he’s now officially known.
Once the Duke of York and a familiar face behind the wheel of luxury cars with royal flair, Andrew is watching his status — and even his car number plates — disappear one by one following his long-running scandal linked to Jeffrey Epstein.
Number Plates That Spoke of Royal Pride Now Drive Away
It wasn’t long ago that Andrew’s Range Rovers proudly displayed private plates reading “DOY” — a bold nod to his title, Duke of York.
But this weekend, those plates became symbols of a life that’s slipping further out of reach.
On Saturday morning, a black Land Rover Defender with one of the “DOY” plates was spotted being driven out of Royal Lodge in Windsor — the very home Andrew has been ordered to vacate.
Records from the DVLA show that both plates once registered to the former Duke are no longer active.
Just a few weeks ago, Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson were seen arriving at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral in a Land Rover worth around £115,000, this time with a far more ordinary registration. The regal vanity has quietly vanished.
Life After the Duke of York Title
Buckingham Palace’s decision to strip Andrew of his royal titles marks one of the most dramatic falls from grace in modern royal history.
The King’s younger brother is now simply “Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor” — a change that has not only symbolic weight but practical consequences too.
He’s also been told to leave his Windsor estate and will instead move into a smaller residence on the royal family’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The move follows weeks of behind-the-scenes deliberation by King Charles, who ultimately decided to act amid ongoing scrutiny of Andrew’s ties to Epstein and renewed allegations from victims, including Virginia Giuffre.
Experts Say His Once-Royal Number Plates Are Worth Almost Nothing
Private registration plates can often fetch eye-watering sums at auction, but in Andrew’s case, experts say the value of his “DOY” plates has nosedived to almost nothing.
James Constantinou, founder of Prestige Pawn, told the Daily Mail that the plates, while once personal to Andrew, hold “little to no financial worth” now — especially in light of his tarnished reputation.
“Even collectors of royal memorabilia would likely shy away,” he added.
Still, Constantinou noted that not all “duke” plates are doomed: “If something like ‘DUKE 1’ were ever issued, that could be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.”
The Palace’s “Steel” Moment and a Difficult Family Decision
Sources close to the royal household say the King’s decision was not taken lightly.
According to The Times, Charles personally called his brother to inform him of his fate — a conversation described by insiders as both “firm” and “final.”
One palace insider told the paper: “His entire sense of purpose revolved around his title and status.
There were concerns about how he would cope. But in the end, the King made him see reason.”
Another source added: “We’ve seen the King’s compassion these past few years — now we’ve seen his steel.”
The Palace Statement That Made It Official
Buckingham Palace issued a formal statement confirming that Andrew’s titles and honours had been removed and that he was instructed to vacate Royal Lodge.
“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles, and honours of Prince Andrew,” the statement read.
“Formal notice has been served to surrender the lease at Royal Lodge, and he will move to alternative private accommodation.”
The Palace emphasized that the decision was made “notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him” and added that the King and Queen’s “thoughts and utmost sympathies remain with the victims and survivors of all forms of abuse.”
Renewed Scrutiny Over the Epstein Connection
This latest royal shake-up follows fresh revelations about Andrew’s involvement with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Reports revealed that the prince once tried to enlist his royal bodyguard and senior palace officials to discredit Virginia Giuffre — the woman who accused him of sexual abuse when she was a teenager.
Emails showed Andrew sharing her personal details with aides and police, allegedly claiming she had a criminal record — a claim that was never substantiated.
Even more damaging were previous messages proving that Andrew lied about cutting contact with Epstein.
In one 2011 email, months after Epstein’s release from prison, Andrew wrote to the convicted sex offender saying they were “in this together” and expressing a desire to “play some more soon.”
Virginia Giuffre’s Story and the Civil Settlement
Virginia Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein and alleged that Andrew assaulted her three times when she was 17, took her own life earlier this year.
Andrew has always denied the allegations, but in 2022 he paid millions to settle her civil lawsuit.
Her family has maintained that Andrew’s denials ring hollow, especially given his long history of association with Epstein.
Investigations and the Role of Police Watchdogs
While the Metropolitan Police previously declined to open a full criminal investigation in 2016, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has suggested that the Met reexamine whether new details warrant further review.
Officers had initially decided that “other jurisdictions were better placed” to investigate, as most of the alleged trafficking occurred outside the UK.
What Comes Next for Andrew and Sarah Ferguson
Amid his forced relocation, reports suggest Andrew will receive a six-figure annual allowance from the King — privately funded — to cover his living expenses at Sandringham.
This is said to be several times greater than his £20,000-a-year naval pension.
Sarah Ferguson, his ex-wife and long-time housemate, has decided not to move with him.
Instead, she’ll find her own new home, marking yet another ending in what was once the couple’s unusual but enduring living arrangement.
A Fall From Grace Few Could Have Predicted
For a man once born into privilege, adored by the Queen, and seen as one of the monarchy’s reliable figures, Andrew’s downfall has been both extraordinary and public.
From royal duties to regalia, from palaces to personalised number plates — everything that once defined his identity is slipping away.
And as his “DOY” plates are quietly deregistered, so too seems the final trace of the Duke of York’s royal life — now just Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, stripped of title, status, and legacy.