Former Prince Andrew to Lose His Last Military Title as King Charles Moves to End His Public Role
Defence Minister confirms that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will be stripped of his vice-admiral rank in the Royal Navy, advancing the King’s decision to remove him from public life
The United Kingdom government is taking formal steps to strip the former prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, of his last remaining military rank, the honorary position of vice-admiral in the Royal Navy.
The move, confirmed by Defence Secretary John Healey on Sunday, follows a recent decision by his elder brother, King Charles III, to remove him entirely from public duties and royal titles as part of a wider effort to safeguard the monarchy’s reputation.
Healey told the BBC that the Ministry of Defence is working in partnership with the King to enact the removal of Andrew’s vice-admiral rank.
“We’ve seen him surrender the honorary positions he’s had throughout the military, and, guided again by the King, we are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral,” he said.
He added that the government would also be guided by the King on whether Andrew should lose his military medals.
Earlier this week, Buckingham Palace announced that Andrew would cease using the title of “Prince” and the style “His Royal Highness”, and would henceforth be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
The palace statement described the measures as “deemed necessary” notwithstanding Andrew’s denial of the allegations against him.
He is already relinquishing his royal residence, and the King and Queen Camilla expressed their “utmost sympathies” to victims and survivors of abuse.
Andrew served in the Royal Navy for some twenty-two years, including as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War, before retiring from active duty in 2001. He retained the honorary rank of vice-admiral after 2022, when his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, removed his other military titles and charitable patronages amid mounting scrutiny of his associations.
Nonetheless, the government has now confirmed that his final honorary military position will be revoked at the King’s direction.
The decision follows the publication of a post-humous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who alleges she was forced to have sex with Andrew when she was aged seventeen, which he denies.
Newly-released emails show he remained in contact with convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein after the latter’s 2009 conviction.
The palace described these developments as contributing to the “censures” being pursued.
Members of Parliament and parts of the public have long called for legislation to remove Andrew’s dukedom and other titles outright.
Although the UK government has signalled it will act “guided” by the royal family, the King’s actions this week mark a decisive shift in the handling of the matter.
The revocation of Andrew’s vice-admiral rank thus punctuates a broader transformation of his status from senior royal and decorated veteran to private citizen.
The move, confirmed by Defence Secretary John Healey on Sunday, follows a recent decision by his elder brother, King Charles III, to remove him entirely from public duties and royal titles as part of a wider effort to safeguard the monarchy’s reputation.
Healey told the BBC that the Ministry of Defence is working in partnership with the King to enact the removal of Andrew’s vice-admiral rank.
“We’ve seen him surrender the honorary positions he’s had throughout the military, and, guided again by the King, we are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral,” he said.
He added that the government would also be guided by the King on whether Andrew should lose his military medals.
Earlier this week, Buckingham Palace announced that Andrew would cease using the title of “Prince” and the style “His Royal Highness”, and would henceforth be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
The palace statement described the measures as “deemed necessary” notwithstanding Andrew’s denial of the allegations against him.
He is already relinquishing his royal residence, and the King and Queen Camilla expressed their “utmost sympathies” to victims and survivors of abuse.
Andrew served in the Royal Navy for some twenty-two years, including as a helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War, before retiring from active duty in 2001. He retained the honorary rank of vice-admiral after 2022, when his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, removed his other military titles and charitable patronages amid mounting scrutiny of his associations.
Nonetheless, the government has now confirmed that his final honorary military position will be revoked at the King’s direction.
The decision follows the publication of a post-humous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who alleges she was forced to have sex with Andrew when she was aged seventeen, which he denies.
Newly-released emails show he remained in contact with convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein after the latter’s 2009 conviction.
The palace described these developments as contributing to the “censures” being pursued.
Members of Parliament and parts of the public have long called for legislation to remove Andrew’s dukedom and other titles outright.
Although the UK government has signalled it will act “guided” by the royal family, the King’s actions this week mark a decisive shift in the handling of the matter.
The revocation of Andrew’s vice-admiral rank thus punctuates a broader transformation of his status from senior royal and decorated veteran to private citizen.
