Britain's King Charles III has begun a process to strip his younger brother Andrew of his titles and honours and evict him from his home, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday.
In a statement, the Palace said a formal notice had been served on Andrew to surrender the lease of his mansion, Royal Lodge, and he will move to alternative private accommodation.
King Charles has initiated a “formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew”, who will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, it said.
Andrew, who remains eighth in line to the throne, had become increasingly estranged from other members of the British royal family over his ties with the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Earlier this month, Andrew gave up his title of Duke of York and other honours.
After the announcement on Thursday, the family of Virginia Giuffre issued a statement to the BBC.
Ms Giuffre, who was abused by Epstein and took her own life this year, and whose memoir was published posthumously this month, was the most prominent source of allegations against Andrew, which he has repeatedly denied "vigorously".
"Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage," said the statement issued by her brother, Skye Roberts, and sister-in-law Amanda.
Andrew paid millions to Ms Giuffre to settle a civil sexual assault case in 2022. While Andrew denies the historic allegations, Buckingham Palace considers that there have been “serious lapses of judgment” on his part.
His daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will keep their titles and continue to be welcome at royal family events, it is understood.
