Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is under renewed public scrutiny following the decision to strip him of his royal status and evict him from the Royal Lodge, as calls intensify for him to face questions in the United States over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Prince Andrew Urged to Testify on Epstein Ties After Royal Status Stripped
In a move described as both historic and decisive, King Charles has effectively removed his younger brother from royal life. Andrew will no longer be known as a prince and is set to vacate the 30-room Royal Lodge, his longtime residence on the Windsor Estate.
This comes after years of controversy surrounding the Duke of York, stemming from sexual abuse allegations made by the late Virginia Giuffre.
She alleged she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with Andrew at the age of 17. Andrew has consistently denied the allegations.
But now, following the loss of his final royal privileges, pressure is building not just from the public, but also from politicians and campaigners for him to finally cooperate with US authorities and reveal the full extent of his relationship with Epstein.
Public and Political Pressure Mounts for Prince Andrew to Break His Silence
Amanda Roberts, the sister-in-law of Virginia Giuffre, delivered a powerful message during an interview with Sky News, urging Andrew to reflect on his role and the impact his silence has had.
“I would say, and I said this earlier, ‘Think of your daughters. They were the same age. Think of what you would do had something like this happened to them. What would you want their perpetrator to do?”
She continued: “I think it’s far beyond time to come clean. You were best friends with this man, and there are so many things that you could help bring to light.
Virginia deserves that, and every single survivor who has been entrapped in that sex trafficking ring deserves that from you. If you can give an inkling of justice, then it should be on you to do.”
Even figures within Westminster are now weighing in. Trade minister Sir Chris Bryant has said Andrew, now legally considered an ordinary citizen, should fully cooperate with any potential US inquiry.
“I think that just as with any ordinary member of the public, if there were requests from another jurisdiction of this kind, I would expect any decently minded person to comply with that request.
What I’m basically saying is that I think that if Andrew is asked to do something by a Senate committee, then I would have thought that he would want to comply.”
Bryant’s comments echo a growing sentiment that the former Duke of York can no longer shield behind royal privilege and must be held to the same standard as any other citizen.
Sky Roberts, Virginia Giuffre’s brother, expressed frustration at what he perceives as insufficient action from the Royal Family.
Speaking to Sky News, he challenged the monarchy directly. “He’s still walking around a free man… He should be investigated, let’s put it that way.”
He also urged King Charles to pressure US leadership to unseal all Epstein-related files: “Tell Donald Trump to ‘put your big boy pants on’ and release the Epstein files.”
The Epstein scandal continues to haunt Buckingham Palace, long after Epstein’s death. With Andrew now stripped of his princely title and no longer protected by royal protocol, the walls of accountability may finally be closing in. But will he face justice, or continue to evade it?
What Happens Next for Andrew?
After vacating the Royal Lodge, a property he paid a symbolic “peppercorn rent” for, Andrew is expected to relocate to a privately funded home on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
Reports suggest the move will take place by the end of January, though negotiations are still underway about which property he will inhabit.
Despite being forced out, Andrew’s lease agreement reportedly includes a clause that entitles him to a £558,000 payout from the Crown Estate if he gives up the lease. But that agreement is said to still be under review.
Meanwhile, Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s ex-wife and close ally, has refused to accept any financial assistance from the royals as part of this transition, putting further strain on his position.
Title Removed, But Still in Line to Rule?
In a symbolic yet serious step, Andrew’s name has been removed from the official roll of the peerage. But despite now being addressed simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, he remains eighth in line to the throne behind Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex.
Royal commentator Joe Little of Majesty Magazine questioned the logic: “Clearly it would take quite a catastrophe for him to become king, given all those that are ahead of him. So might it not have been tidier to withdraw him from the line of succession?”
While many have called for legislation to prevent disgraced royals from ever ascending the throne, Downing Street has poured cold water on the idea for now.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said: “From the government’s perspective, there are no plans to make legislative changes. The government is focused on using parliamentary time to improve the lives of working people.”
Interest in Andrew’s ties to Epstein has only grown since the publication of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, which reignited global attention on the case.
With Epstein’s network still under investigation and numerous files still sealed, campaigners argue that Andrew has a moral duty to assist in any way he can. For now, the public waits. The spotlight remains fixed. And the pressure continues to mount.
