LONDON (AP) – The family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre has praised King Charles III's decision to strip his brother, Prince Andrew, of his royal title and residence, as scrutiny intensified on the disgraced royal regarding his finances and his association with Jeffrey Epstein. This significant step was taken in response to increasing public disapproval amid fresh revelations about Andrew's connections to the convicted sex offender.

King Charles aimed to protect the monarchy from the repercussions of Andrew's actions, marking the first time in a century that a British prince has been deprived of his title. Julian Payne, a former communications secretary for the royal family, stated that the family collectively recognized a "tipping point" had been reached regarding the scandal involving Andrew.

The former Prince Andrew will now be addressed as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and he is set to vacate the Royal Lodge, a 30-room home situated near Windsor Castle, where he has resided for over two decades. Instead, he will relocate to a more secluded house within his brother's Sandringham Estate in eastern England, which is funded by King Charles.

The British government has expressed support for the king's decision. Trade Minister Chris Bryant lauded the move, asserting that it aligns with the sentiments of the majority of people in the United Kingdom. Previously, Andrew had given up the title Duke of York amid new allegations regarding his relationship with Epstein and renewed claims of sexual abuse made by Giuffre, who recently published a posthumous memoir. Although Andrew denies these allegations, the king's decision to remove his prince title signifies a serious rebuke for his actions.

The palace stated that such measures are deemed necessary, regardless of Andrew's continued denial of the allegations, emphasizing their sympathy for victims of abuse. Historically, it is nearly unheard of for a member of the royal family to be stripped of their title; the last occurrence was in 1919 when Prince Ernest Augustus lost his title for supporting Germany during World War I.

Calls have intensified for Andrew to answer questions in the United States regarding Epstein. Giuffre’s family celebrated the royal's decision as a victory for their sister, who suffered at the hands of Epstein's sex-trafficking ring during her teenage years and later accused Andrew of abusive behavior. Her family stated, “Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.”

Sky Roberts, Giuffre’s brother, echoed sentiments of relief but insisted that Andrew should face further investigations, advocating that he needs to be "behind bars, period." Government minister Bryant insisted that Andrew is now just an “ordinary member of the public” and should comply with any inquiries from U.S. Senate committees.

Back in the UK, police are probing an allegation that Andrew requested a police bodyguard to gather information on Giuffre. Additionally, lawmakers are investigating how Andrew financed his residence at Royal Lodge, which he leased for a nominal annual fee—commonly referred to as “peppercorn rent.”

This episode marks one of the most dramatic royal exits since 1936, when King Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American. Although Prince Harry has renounced his royal status and relocated to California, he retains the title of prince and Duke of Sussex.

Recent leaked emails have drawn new outrage towards Andrew, revealing that he maintained contact with Epstein longer than he had previously acknowledged. The situation escalated following the release of Giuffre's memoir, “Nobody's Girl,” in which she recounts her encounters with Andrew when she was just 17, alleging that he acted as if "having sex with me was his birthright." Despite the ongoing allegations, Andrew has consistently denied Giuffre's claims but did settle an out-of-court agreement in 2022 after she filed a civil suit against him in New York, without admitting wrongdoing while acknowledging her status as a trafficking victim.