Prince Andrew’s name has been formally amended on the royal family’s official website, removing his former Duke of York title from the line of succession page. Until recently, the entry listed him as the Duke of York, but it now identifies him as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Earlier this month, his personal biography page was also taken down, marking another step in distancing his public identity from his former royal status.
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Although the 65-year-old has been stripped of his military affiliations, honours and official duties, he remains eighth in the line of succession. As the late Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, he was originally positioned directly behind his elder brother, now King Charles III. Over time, the births of Charles’s children and grandchildren have pushed Andrew further down the line, placing him behind Prince Harry’s children, Archie and Lilibet.
Removing him entirely would require legislation approved by Parliament, alongside consent from Commonwealth realms where the King serves as head of state. Such action would be unusual but not without precedent. Edward VIII relinquished his position on abdicating in 1936, while Prince Michael of Kent temporarily lost his place after marrying a Catholic in 1978, before legislation changed in 2013.
Andrew withdrew from public duties in 2019 after a widely criticised BBC interview addressing his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In early 2022, Queen Elizabeth II removed his remaining patronages and military roles following the progression of Virginia Giuffre’s civil sexual assault case, which Andrew later settled out of court without admitting liability. Renewed scrutiny has emerged in recent weeks, including fresh allegations published posthumously in Giuffre’s memoir and leaked emails indicating continued contact with Epstein.
On 17 October, Andrew announced he would no longer use his royal titles, though Buckingham Palace later confirmed that the King had initiated the formal legal process to strip him of all remaining styles and honours. A Letters Patent made the change official on 3 November.
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He was recently photographed on horseback within Windsor Castle grounds, suggesting he remains at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park. However, reports indicate he is expected to leave the 30-bedroom residence and relocate to the royal family’s Sandringham estate. The Palace has not commented further on the transition.
