Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been accused of having any mention of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims removed from previous statements of support from Buckingham Palace.
The disgraced royal repeatedly refused to sign off on statements expressing support for victims of abuse, as revealed by The Times.
The King’s brother was stripped of his prince and Duke of York titles mid-week and will be forced out of Royal Lodge as he plans a move to the Sandringham Estate in the new year.
King Charles and Queen Camilla shared their “thoughts and utmost sympathies” with “the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse” as part of their announcement with Andrew being ousted.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has been accused of ‘refusing to sign off royal tributes to Jeffrey Epstein victims’.
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GETTYA friend of the royal couple claimed that the victims were removed from all previous statements drafted by courtiers and issued by Buckingham Palace since Andrew’s Newsnight interview in 2019.
The friend said the King has “lost patience” with his brother and that his announcement is “no longer a statement by committee; it’s a statement from the King”.
They said: “There has long been a sense from the family that the voices of the victims needed to be heard in these procurements, because they feature so heavily in this saga and because there is no credible way the Queen and the Duchess of Edinburgh can continue to do the work they do in the areas of sexual abuse if they can’t point to that.
“Now, the King has lost his patience: you can see this statement is no longer a statement by committee, it’s a statement from the King.”
The friend of King Charles said he has ‘lost patience’ with his brother.
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GETTYAndrew has consistently denied all allegations against him, and the Metropolitan Police previously considered the sex assault claims were not sufficient to warrant further investigation.
In 2019, Andrew said he was stepping back from public life after his Newsnight interview, saying in a statement that Epstein’s suicide left many unanswered questions for “his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure”.
The former prince’s losses of his military affiliations and royal patronages in 2022, as well as his pledges not to use the Duke of York on October 17, made no mention of abuse survivors.
Buckingham Palace has declined to comment.
Andrew has consistently denied all allegations against him.
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GETTYThe statement from Thursday said that the disgraced royal will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
It read: “His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.
“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. 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 said Andrew ‘will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’.
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GETTY“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.”
Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will keep their titles.
The King is said to be very keen to “protect” nieces.
The sisters remain Her Royal Highnesses as granddaughters of Queen Elizabeth II.