The Ministry of Defence is working to remove Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s last honorary military rank under the guidance of the King, the defence secretary has said.
John Healey said King Charles had “indicated that’s what he wishes”.
Andrew, who was stripped of his title as a prince on Thursday, retained his rank as a Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy after giving up his other military positions in 2022.
Healey told the ‘s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “This is a move that’s right, it’s a move the King has indicated we should take and we’re working on that at the moment.”
Andrew had a 22-year career in the Royal Navy, and served as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War.
This week, he lost his last remaining royal titles and privileges following months of pressure over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has always denied wrongdoing.
Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, royal author and journalist Valentine Low said this latest move, to lose his final military title, will be a “blow” to Andrew.
“Royals, and particularly Andrew, are very proud and determined to hang onto military titles,” he said.
“It seems the King is intent on taking absolutely everything away from his brother. It’s a flinty eyed ruthlessness he’s displaying.”
The prince had already returned military titles and royal patronages in 2022, and stopped using the title His Royal Highness in an official capacity, after he was accused of sexual abuse in a civil case in the US.
He later settled the case brought against him by Virginia Giuffre, a victim of sex trafficking and abuse by Jeffrey Epstein, who alleged the prince sexually abused her when she was a teenager – something the prince has consistently denied.
Military titles that Andrew lost at the time included colonel of the Grenadier Guards – one of the most senior infantry regiments in the British army.
He also lost several overseas honorary roles, including colonel-in-chief of The Royal Highland Fusiliers Of Canada, and colonel-in-chief of the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment.