Andrew’s name removed from peerage roll in key step to strip him of titles

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor (Toby Melville/PA)

Former British prince Andrew Mountbatten Windsor no longer appears on the official roll of the peerage, marking a key step in formally removing his titles.

Buckingham Palace said his name had been struck from the roll after Britain's King Charles III took the dramatic decision to formally strip his brother of his Prince and Duke of York titles and HRH style, a move that effectively ends his public life.

Dukes, including the Duke of York, are listed on the roll of the peerage maintained at the Crown Office and, as Lord Chancellor, David Lammy is responsible for maintaining it.

Mr Lammy, who is also Britain's justice secretary, was due to be sent royal warrants by King Charles to strike Andrew from the roll, as well as his Prince title and HRH style.

The subsidiary titles are similarly affected.

It is not clear when the move to strike Andrew from the roll took place.

The disgraced royal, whose friendship with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein led to his downfall, will effectively have the status of a commoner and be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

The family of Virginia Giuffre said she had “brought down a prince” after King Charles’ decision.

Andrew has also agreed to leave Royal Lodge in Windsor.

The monarchy had come under increasing pressure to resolve the issues around Andrew, foremost his property arrangements, amid growing calls for him to give up Royal Lodge after it emerged he was paying a “peppercorn” rent.

As the eyes of the world remain fixed on the 30-bedroom mansion, it is unclear when Andrew will leave.

He is to move into an undisclosed private residence on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk as soon as practicable, it is understood.

The family of Virginia Giuffre said she ‘declares a victory’ but stripping Andrew of his titles is ‘not enough’ (Crime+Investigation/PA)

Andrew had tainted the reputation of the royal family with his association with Epstein and, for many years, was dogged by allegations he sexually abused Ms Giuffre, who took her own life in April, after she was trafficked by the financier.

He has strenuously denied the allegations.

The latest development in the long-running controversy comes after focus intensified on King Charles' brother after he attempted to draw a line under Ms Giuffre’s allegations, by giving up his dukedom and other honours, earlier this month, ahead of the publication of Ms Giuffre’s posthumous memoir.

But Andrew was instead swamped by criticism that has focused on his property. Some MPs were eager to debate the issue in parliament.

There have also been a series of damaging newspaper allegations, including that Andrew tried to get the Metropolitan Police to find information for a smear campaign against Ms Giuffre.

The force said previously that they were looking into the allegations after the Mail on Sunday claimed Andrew passed Ms Giuffre’s date of birth and social security number to his taxpayer-funded bodyguard in 2011 and asked him to investigate.

With further disclosures likely, the king’s decision will be seen by commentators as the royal family distancing itself from Andrew.