London / PNN /
UK Defence Secretary John Healey announced on Sunday that the government will revoke the last honorary military titles held by Prince Andrew, the brother of King Charles III.
The British monarch announced on Thursday that his younger brother would be stripped of his royal titles amid mounting public outrage over Andrew (aged 65)’s association with the convicted US financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in his prison cell while awaiting trial in 2019.
“We have seen Andrew relinquish the honorary positions he held in the military, and under the King’s guidance we are now moving to remove the last title he holds — that of Vice-Admiral,” Healey told the BBC.
He added that the government will follow the King’s recommendations regarding the military honours Andrew obtained during his career.
The King’s younger brother took part in the 1982 Falklands War as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot and retired from the service in 2001 after 22 years.
Andrew has long denied having sexual relations with Virginia Giuffre, the lead accuser of Jeffrey Epstein, when she was being exploited by the US billionaire.
However, after new revelations in Giuffre’s memoir — published posthumously in April — the King stripped Andrew of all titles and he is now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
New published materials may further tarnish the former prince’s reputation.
The Sunday Times reported on Sunday that Andrew had always refused to acknowledge Epstein’s victims in Buckingham Palace statements about the scandal.
US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters on the presidential plane, expressed his sympathy toward the royal family. He added: “What happened to the family is terrible. It was a tragic situation.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla said in a statement on Thursday that “their thoughts and deep sympathy are, and will remain, with the victims and survivors of all forms of abuse.”
Court documents released in US legal proceedings last week revealed emails exchanged in 2010 between Andrew and Epstein — after Epstein’s release from prison for sex trafficking minors.
In one message, Andrew wrote: “It would be my pleasure to meet in person.”
