In the flood of commentary that has followed the unprecedented actions of King Charles III to constitutionally strip his brother, Prince Andrew, of his titles and honours and effectively exile him to a form of royal house arrest, it’s important to recognise the heartbreaking bravery of the late Virginia Giuffre.
Her brother Skye and sister-in-law Amanda said it all in their haunting joint statement swiftly made in the wake of this watershed moment in royal history.
“Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family, brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage,” they wrote.
“Virginia Roberts Giuffre, our sister, a child when she was sexually assaulted by Andrew, never stopped fighting for accountability for what had happened to her and to countless other survivors like her. Today, she declares victory.”
Virginia Giuffre’s memoir released
That Giuffre, who alleged she was sexually trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, lost her life in her bitter struggle to be heard, is the stark tragedy that underpins what has surely been the most damaging episode in the British monarchy’s history since King Edward VIII’s abdication in 1936.
King Charles’s statement when it came was uncompromising and incisive. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, as he will now be known, no longer holds any titles and has been evicted from the palatial Royal Lodge Windsor family home he has clung on to with such entitlement, paying no rent for more than two decades.
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the statement declared. In other words, it no longer matters that Andrew protests innocence, the King’s brother’s serious lapses in judgement have brought the House of Windsor into disrepute.
Something had to be done and this was it.
Those lapses include allegedly remaining friends with the late Jeffrey Epstein after he was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Next came the words that many have been waiting to hear from the King. “Their majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
Sky Roberts with his sister Virginia Roberts Giuffre, said she never stopped fighting for accountability for what had happened to her other survivors.()
Royal family on a knife edge
The decision to initiate a process to finally and convincingly banish his brother from royal life was entirely the King’s, made with the support of the wider family, including the Prince of Wales, and in consultation with relevant government authorities.
The statement from the former prince that had been delivered some days earlier to set aside his titles and no longer use them was designed as a stop gap while a longer-term resolution could be found.
But in hindsight it was surely a mistake.
Andrew is a prince no more
The public outcry was damning and rather than tie up parliament, the King ultimately invoked royal warrants to excommunicate his brother. Andrew has not objected, which is not what we have seen to date from the former prince whose arrogance has been quite breathtaking.
The family dynamics behind palace gates have been on a knife edge for some time. To have the King’s closest relative accused of sexual abuse was always going to be an untenable situation but all advice from the Palace suggested that the King’s hands were tied.
Andrew was refusing to fall on his sword and removing titles involved an act of parliament, we were told.
Queen Camilla’s important work with vulnerable women has been a cornerstone of her royal life and she would surely have weighed in to discussions about the issue of what to do about Andrew.
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Then there is William. The heir apparent had to have “the Andrew issue” dealt with long before his time on the throne. But the dung ball of Andrew’s scandals s increased following the release of Giuffre’s shocking memoir and emails alleging Andrew had lied about severing his friendship with Epstein. Something had to give.
Sarah Ferguson had already admitted to and apologised for accepting substantial funds from Epstein but new leaked emails alleged she privately supported the sex offender following his time in prison.
Prince William’s disdain for his uncle was obvious at the recent funeral of the Duchess of Kent, when Andrew manoeuvred himself into a position standing by the prince and tried to engage in conversation. The thunderous look on William’s face spoke volumes and the media lapped it up.
This was a family falling apart.
Has the King done enough?
What’s more the prospect of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children moving into their new home — Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park — which is due to take place before Christmas, with disgraced Uncle Andrew as their near neighbour, was sizing up as another awkward time for family interactions.
As of now Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will be moving from Royal Lodge in coming days. The King is providing accommodation on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, which unlike the Lodge is private property and going forward he will be funding his brother’s accommodation and making appropriate private provision for him.
Prince Andrew labelled a ‘liar’ and ‘hypocrite’
While he may be cutting Andrew out of royal and public life, he remains his supportive brother.
The King is also at pains to separate Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie from their father’s banishment. Their titles remain and although they are not working royals, I am sure we will be seeing them at royal occasions and continuing their public charity work.
Ferguson however is very much out in the cold. She will not be moving with Andrew and like her ex-husband will not be invited to royal celebrations and public events.
The continued legal actions in the United States may well throw up more allegations. Andrew will hope the focus will fall on other high-profile Epstein “friends”.
But has the King done enough to stem the damage to the monarchy? The jury’s still certainly out.
A timeline of a prince’s demise
2001–2011
Prince Andrew, Virginia Roberts, and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2001.()
March, 2001: Photo taken of Prince Andrew with Virginia Giuffre (then known as Virginia Roberts) and Ghislaine Maxwell in London — allegedly by late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
December, 2010: Prince Andrew photographed with Epstein in Central Park, New York — after Epstein was released from prison on a sexual offence charge
February 21, 2011: New York Post publishes photo of Andrew and Epstein with headline “Prince and perv”
The photos appeared in the February 21, 2011 edition of the New York Post.()
February 27, 2011: Daily Mail publishes interview with Virginia Giuffre and the now infamous photo — but article stops short of accusing him of misconduct
February 28, 2011: Prince Andrew allegedly emails Epstein saying “we’re in this together” and “we’ll play some more soon” in reference to negative press
Sexual assault support lines:
- 1800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732
- Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114
- Full Stop Australia: 1800 385 578
- Bravehearts: counselling and support for survivors of child sexual abuse: 1800 272 831
- Child Wise: counselling provider: 1800 991 099
2015–2019
Prince Andrew speaking to Emily Maitlis on the BBC.()
Janaury, 2015: Allegations Prince Andrew has sex with a minor made public as part of a lawsuit against Epstein
January, 2015: Daily Mail publishes story identifying Virginia Roberts as the victim in the case, including details of the night of the alleged offence
July, 2019: Epstein arrested on sex trafficking charges
August, 2019: Epstein found dead in his jail cell
November 16, 2019: Prince Andrew gives lengthy interview with BBC denying sexual abuse allegations, saying he does not sweat, he cut off contact with Epstein in December 2010 and questioning the legitimacy of the 2001 photo
November 20, 2019: Prince Andrew steps back from public duties “for the foreseeable future” because his relations with Epstein became “a major disruption”
If you or anyone you know needs help:
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN on 13 92 76
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
- ReachOut at au.reachout.com
- MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
- QLife 1800 184 527
2021–2025
A New York Judge has rejected a motion brought by lawyers for Prince Andrew to dismiss a sexual assault civil suit against the Royal.()
September, 2021: Prince Andrew served with sexual assault civil lawsuit papers, lodged in the US by Virginia Giuffre
October, 2021: British police say they will not be taking further action after conducting a review of evidence relating to sex crime allegations against Prince Andrew
Janaury, 2022: Prince Andrew is stripped of his honorary military titles after a judge rejects his bid to have the civil lawsuit dismissed — but he remains a prince and the Duke of York
February, 2022: Prince Andrew reaches a settlement with Virginia Giuffre in her civil case, agreeing to make a donation to her victims’ rights charity
September, 2024: Prince Andrew told to pay for the upkeep of the 30-room Royal Lodge mansion he rents from the Crown Estate if he wants to keep living there, the BBC reports
December 14, 2024: Prince Andrew says he “ceased all contact” with an unnamed businessman accused of being a Chinese spy
February, 2025: Court documents made public reveal email sent to Epstein saying “we’re in this together” and “we’ll play soon” from a member of the royal family — who British media says it’s believed that was Prince Andrew
April, 2025: Virginia Giuffre dies by suicide, with her family calling her a “fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking”
If you or anyone you know needs help:
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN on 13 92 76
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
- ReachOut at au.reachout.com
- MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
- QLife 1800 184 527
September, 2025: Multiple charities cut ties with Prince Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson after it is revealed she emailed Epstein calling him “a supreme friend” in 2011
October 12, 2025: The Daily Mail and The Sun claim to have confirmed the email was sent from Prince Andrew — contradicting his assertion he cut off contacts with Epstein in December 2010
October 15, 2025: Extracts of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir published by British media revive allegations against Prince Andrew
October 16, 2015: British newspaper The Telegraph publishes story linking Prince Andrew with a different “Chinese spymaster”
October 17, 2025: Prince Andrew announces he will no longer use his titles and honours while “vigorously” denying allegations — however, he has not been stripped of his Dukedom and is referred to as a prince
October 21, 2025: The BBC reveals details of Prince Andrew’s “peppercorn” lease of Royal Lodge amid growing scrutiny in his lavish living arrangements
October 30, 2025: Prince Andrew is stripped of his royal titles and told to leave Royal Lodge — he is now referred to as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor
