Royal watchers realized in October 2025 that King Charles III stripped his youthful brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — previously often called Prince Andrew — of his royal titles and evicted him from his lavish dwelling.
The previous prince’s spectacular fall from grace has been tied to his friendship with the late convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor informed BBC’s Newsnight in 2019 that he met Epstein via the disgraced financier’s girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, although he denied any wrongdoing. (Epstein was convicted of procuring a baby for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute in 2008 and was later arrested on federal intercourse trafficking expenses weeks earlier than his demise by suicide in August 2019. Maxwell is at the moment serving a 20-year jail sentence for intercourse trafficking expenses.)
In that very same 2019 interview, Mountbatten-Windsor insisted he didn’t remorse his friendship with Epstein regardless of the harm to his status.
“Now, (I) nonetheless (do) not (remorse it) and the reason is is that the people who I met and the alternatives that I used to be given to be taught both by him or due to him had been truly very helpful,” Mountbatten Windsor informed Newsnight. “He himself not, because it had been, as shut as you would possibly suppose, we weren’t that shut. So due to this fact I imply, sure, I’d go and keep in his home however that was due to his girlfriend, not due to him.”
King Charles can’t escape the continued media consideration on his brother Prince Andrew’s longstanding friendship with the late convicted pedophile, Jeffrey Epstein. “How lengthy have you ever identified about Andrew and Epstein?” a person shouted at Charles, 76, because the royal greeted the general public exterior Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire on Monday, October 27, per footage shared (…)
The fallout from Mountbatten-Windsor’s 2019 interview led him to step again from his royal duties in November 2019, although he was ultimately stripped of his titles by King Charles in October 2025 as continuous revelations emerged. In February 2026, Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested by Thames Valley Police on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace, with King Charles later calling for a “full, truthful and correct course of by which this situation is investigated.”
Maintain scrolling for extra about the best way Charles and different royals reacted to Mountbatten-Windsor’s friendship with Epstein.
How Is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Related to Jeffrey Epstein?
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor informed BBC Newsnight host Emily Maitlis in a 2019 interview that he met Jeffrey Epstein via the convicted intercourse offender’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. (Ghislaine’s father, Robert Maxwell, was a part of the media institution within the U.Okay. as proprietor of the Each day Mirror and The London Night Information previous to his demise at age 68 in 1991.)
Whereas Mountbatten-Windsor by no means confronted prison expenses over his alleged involvement with Epstein, he was sued for sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional misery by Virginia Giuffre in 2021. Giuffre alleged that Epstein and Maxwell trafficked her to Mountbatten-Windsor following an evening at Tramp nightclub in London in 2001.
“I’ve no recollection of ever assembly this woman, none by any means,” Mountbatten-Windsor insisted to Newsnight.
Nevertheless, Mountbatten-Windsor reached a personal settlement with Giuffre in 2022 after she sued him for sexual assault and battery. (He didn’t admit any fault as a part of the settlement settlement although he agreed to make a considerable donation to Converse Out, Act, Reclaim, a charity supporting intercourse trafficking victims.)
Mountbatten-Windsor claimed that he visited Epstein at his New York penthouse in December 2010 to formally finish their friendship. On the time, Epstein had not too long ago accomplished his 18-month jail sentence for procuring a baby for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute.
“I’ve at all times … ever since this has occurred and since this has turn into, because it had been, public information that I used to be there, I’ve questioned myself as to why did I’m going and what was I doing and was it the correct factor to do?” Mountbatten-Windsor informed Newsnight. “Now, I went there with the only real objective of claiming to him that as a result of he had been convicted, it was inappropriate for us to be seen collectively.”
Andrew and King Charles III in 2015 Peter Nicholls – WPA Pool /Getty Pictures
Mountbatten-Windsor admitted that he’d had “quite a few individuals counsel” him over whether or not it was applicable to go to Epstein’s dwelling within the wake of his conviction.
“I took the judgement name that, as a result of this was critical, and I felt that doing it over the phone was the hen’s means of doing it. I needed to go and see him and speak to him,” he mentioned.
He added, “I mentioned to (Epstein) … ‘Look, due to what has occurred, I don’t suppose it’s applicable that we should always stay involved,’ and by mutual settlement throughout that stroll within the park we determined that we might half firm and I left, I feel it was the subsequent day. To at the present time, I by no means had any contact with him from that day ahead.”
His friendship with Epstein confronted a brand new stage of scrutiny when a paparazzi photograph from Mountbatten-Windsor and Epstein’s Central Park dialog was printed by the New York Publish in 2011. Because of the scandal, Buckingham Palace introduced in July 2011 that Mountbatten-Windsor had resigned as a U.Okay. commerce envoy.
Any try by Mountbatten-Windsor to place the scandal behind him together with his 2019 Newsnight interview failed. The TV particular solely intensified protection of the scandal, resulting in Mountbatten-Windsor formally stepping again from his royal duties in November 2019.
“It has turn into clear to me over the previous couple of days that the circumstance regarding my former affiliation with Jeffrey Epstein has turn into a significant disruption to my household’s work and the precious work occurring within the many organizations and charities that I’m proud to assist,” he mentioned. “Subsequently, I’ve requested Her Majesty if I’ll step again from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she or he has given her permission.”
Whereas Mountbatten-Windsor was slowly reintegrated into royal features a couple of years later, a brand new spherical of allegations erupted with the publication of Andrew Lownie’s tell-all 2025 ebook Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the Home of York.
A number of U.Okay. retailers printed personal emails that Mountbatten-Windsor allegedly despatched to Epstein in 2011, which contradicted his assertion that he’d reduce off communication with the financier after visiting his New York Metropolis dwelling in December 2010. In one purported e-mail, the prince allegedly wrote to Epstein that they had been “on this collectively and must rise above it.”
Mountbatten-Windsor mentioned in October 2025 that he would cease utilizing his royal title because the Duke of York.
“In dialogue with The King, and my speedy and wider household, we have now concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Household,” Mountbatten-Windsor mentioned in an announcement to Us on October 17, 2025. “I’ve determined, as I at all times have, to place my obligation to my household and nation first. I stand by my choice 5 years in the past to face again from public life.”
He continued, “With His Majesty’s settlement, we really feel I have to now go a step additional. I’ll due to this fact now not use my title or the honors which have been conferred upon me. As I’ve mentioned beforehand, I vigorously deny the accusations in opposition to me.”
As soon as once more, his pledge did little to quiet the scandal, so Buckingham Palace confirmed days later that King Charles III deliberate to strip his brother of his royal titles and power him to maneuver out of his dwelling at Royal Lodge, which Mountbatten-Windsor acquired in 2003 as a part of a “peppercorn lease.”
Later that 12 months, Mountbatten-Windsor was accused of asking his taxpayer-funded safety element to analyze Giuffre previous to their 2022 authorized settlement. The Metropolitan Police introduced in December 2025 that it will “take no additional motion” in opposition to Mountbatten-Windsor over the historic accusation.
“The Met stays dedicated to completely assessing any new data that might help on this matter,” a police spokesperson mentioned.”Thus far, we have now not acquired any further proof that might assist reopening the investigation. Within the absence of any additional data, we might be taking no additional motion.”
There have been new disclosures in January 2026 as a part of three million paperwork launched by the Justice Division in compliance with the Epstein Recordsdata Transparency Act, which included a photograph obtained from the Epstein property of Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling on all fours over an unknown girl. (The Justice Division offered no context on the place or when the photograph was taken. The unidentified girl’s face was redacted to guard her privateness.)
Mountbatten-Windsor reportedly moved out of Royal Lodge in February 2026. He’s residing in a brief property on his brother Charles’ privately-owned Sandringham property whereas his everlasting house is present process renovations.
Thames Valley Police confirmed to Us on February 19, 2026, that its officers had “arrested a person in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public workplace.” Mountbatten-Windsor’s title was not talked about within the police assertion as a result of nationwide steering.
Mountbatten-Windsor stands accused of sharing confidential data with Epstein whereas performing as a U.Okay. commerce envoy from 2001 to 2011. Per the Crown Safety Service, these discovered criminally liable of “critical wilful abuse or neglect of the ability or duties of the general public workplace held” can face a most punishment of life imprisonment.
What Did Queen Elizabeth II Say About Prince Andrew’s Connection to Jeffrey Epstein?
The Telegraph reported that Queen Elizabeth II partially funded her son Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s $16 million settlement to dismiss his sexual assault accuser Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit in 2022. The queen’s contribution reportedly got here from her personal Duchy of Lancaster property in order not to attract criticism about public funds getting used.
Nevertheless, a spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth informed Individuals in February 2022 that Buckingham Palace “by no means commented on the monetary facets of the Duke’s personal authorized affairs and received’t be now.”
One month earlier, Buckingham Palace revealed that Queen Elizabeth was revoking Mountbatten-Windsor’s navy titles. Her rebuke got here after greater than 150 British navy veterans wrote an open letter to the monarch asking her to strip Mountbatten-Windsor of his service awards.
“With the queen’s approval and settlement, the Duke of York’s navy affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the queen,” the palace mentioned in an announcement in January 2022. “The Duke of York will proceed to not undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a personal citizen.”
Queen Elizabeth died at age 96 in September 2002.
How Did King Charles III React to Prince Andrew’s Connection to Jeffrey Epstein?
King Charles III initially held again from addressing the rising scandal round his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, amid new allegations in Andrew Lownie’s bombshell 2025 ebook Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the Home of York.
Whereas Mountbatten-Windsor agreed to cease utilizing his royal title in October 2025, the king lastly stepped in days later together with his personal royal decree. The king confirmed that he was primarily evicting Mountbatten-Windsor from his dwelling at Royal Lodge, the place the previous prince lived since 2003.
“Prince Andrew will now be often called Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, up to now, offered him with authorized safety to proceed in residence,” reads a Buckingham Palace assertion shared with Us Weekly on October 30, 2025. “Formal discover has now been served to give up the lease and he’ll transfer to different personal lodging. These censures are deemed obligatory, however the truth that he continues to disclaim the allegations in opposition to him.”
In a February 2026 assertion, the palace famous, “The King has made clear, in phrases and thru unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which proceed to return to mild in respect of Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct.”
The palace continued, “Whereas the particular claims in query are for Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor to deal with, if we’re approached by Thames Valley Police, we stand able to assist them as you’ll anticipate. As was beforehand said, Their Majesties’ ideas and sympathies have been, and stay with, the victims of any and all types of abuse.”
Following Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest in February 2026, King Charles launched an announcement confirming that he’d “realized with the deepest concern the information about (the arrest of) Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public workplace.”
“What now follows is the total, truthful and correct course of by which this situation is investigated within the applicable method and by the suitable authorities. On this, as I’ve mentioned earlier than, they’ve our full and wholehearted assist and cooperation,” King Charles mentioned in an announcement to Us. “Let me state clearly: the regulation should take its course. As this course of continues, it will not be proper for me to remark additional on this matter. In the meantime, my household and I’ll proceed in our obligation and repair to you all.”
How Did Prince Edward React to Prince Andrew’s Connection to Jeffrey Epstein?
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s youthful brother, Prince Edward, turned the primary member of the royal household to personally tackle the Epstein scandal in February 2025. Throughout a Q&A for the World Governments Summit in Dubai, he was requested how he was “coping” with the continuous controversy.
“I feel it’s essential at all times to recollect the victims,” Prince Edward answered. “And who’re the victims in all this? A variety of victims in all this.”
How Did Prince William and Kate Middleton React to Prince Andrew’s Connection to Jeffrey Epstein?
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s nephew Prince William and his spouse, Princess Kate Middleton, launched an announcement as new paperwork from the Epstein information continued to go public.
“I can verify The Prince and Princess have been deeply involved by the persevering with revelations,” a spokesperson for the Prince and Princess of Wales shared in February 2026. “Their ideas stay targeted on the victims.”