In Buckingham Palace, the king have reportedly dismissed his younger brother, Prince Andrew, who is 62 years old. The tabloid Sun covered the development extensively, noting the abrupt nature of the decision.
One insider quoted by the paper claimed that Prince Andrew is formally no longer a functioning member of the royal family and that his role within royal life has effectively ended. The source described the situation as a clear, official break from duties within the palace walls.
Until now, even after stepping back from official engagements, Andrew remained connected to the royal residence network. The article suggests that staff across the household have been warned about potential dismissals as a consequence of the changes.
The Prince of York is expected to continue residing at Windsor Castle. He has had permission to live at the Royal Lodge estate for a lengthy term, dating back to 2003, with a sizeable estate that includes a 31-bedroom house and about 40 hectares of surrounding land with several dwellings.
News from late 2022 indicated that Andrew spends much of his time in the royal residence, watching television, with occasional walks with dogs or rides on horseback. A friend told a messaging app that the prince has grown more reflective and receptive to family guidance over time.
Prince scandal
The prince was compelled to step back from public duties at the end of 2019 after Virginia Giuffre publicly alleged that she had been forced into sexual activity by multiple men linked to Jeffrey Epstein when she was a minor. Epstein, a financier, faced charges of sex trafficking and the involvement of minors in prostitution before his death in a New York prison in August 2019.
Investigations indicated that Epstein hosted numerous young girls at his Manhattan home between 2002 and 2005. The legal proceedings in the United States concluded with Epstein’s suicide while awaiting trial.
Giuffre later filed a civil case against the Duke of York seeking damages for harm suffered. After an unsuccessful effort to have the case dismissed, the prince chose to settle out of court, continuing to deny any wrongdoing.
The settlement amount was not officially disclosed, but media reports from the period suggested a figure around £12 million, equivalent to roughly $15 million at the time. In any potential courtroom appearance, questions about the prince’s associations with Giuffre and Epstein could arise. Legal observers noted that a pretrial agreement might be interpreted as a reputational setback for Andrew, who faced challenges in restoring a fully ceremonial role. Many outlets argued that the prince would likely not regain the full suite of honorary duties following these events.