Prince Andrew shall no longer be called Prince Andrew. He is now just Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. Buckingham Palace made the announcement this week, stating that he will lose his “prince” title and be forced to leave his Royal Lodge home in Windsor. The statement suggests they believe the allegations that he committed sexual assault are true. From the announcement:
“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him. Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”
The move comes just days after the release of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice. Giuffre accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after being trafficked to him by Jeffrey Epstein. She died in April of this year; her family said she committed suicide after the “toll of abuse … became unbearable.” Giuffre alleged she was involved in three sexual encounters with Prince Andrew, one of which occurred during an orgy with Epstein and eight other minors.
Andrew had always denied Giuffre’s allegations but paid a reportedly substantial settlement in 2022. The amount was not disclosed, though reports indicate it totaled about £12 million ($16.3 million). Giuffre’s family expressed relief at the news. Her brother, Sky Roberts, and his wife, Amanda Roberts, issued a statement to People magazine, saying, “Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.”
The decision by the Royals to banish Andrew has reignited scrutiny of the Justice Department (DOJ) for what many view as a refusal to be transparent. The FBI released a statement in June asserting it was closing the Epstein case, concluding that Epstein killed himself, no list of clients who paid for sex with minors exists, and there is no “credible evidence” he blackmailed powerful people. The memo triggered backlash, particularly from President Donald Trump’s base, leading the Republican-controlled Congress to release thousands of documents through the House Oversight Committee. Critics argue this was a tactic to limit what became public.
The controversy simmered for months but has recently resurfaced. The special election of radical Democrat Adelita Grijalva in September secured Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) the votes needed to push a discharge petition demanding all DOJ files on Epstein be released. Massie has criticized the Oversight Committee’s actions as an attempt by the Trump DOJ to control what information emerges.
Massie, during a House committee hearing on FBI oversight in September, named another alleged Epstein client and hinted at knowledge of 19 more. He identified Jes Staley, a former banking executive linked to Epstein through JPMorgan. The Virgin Islands has sued JPMorgan, Staley’s former employer, accusing him of funneling Epstein’s money. Court documents revealed emails suggesting Staley may have been involved in Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation, including discussions using Disney characters as code.
Staley was never charged with sexual crimes but was forced out of Barclays in 2021 amid investigations into his dealings with Epstein. In September, Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) held a press conference with eight other alleged Epstein victims. Lisa Phillips, one survivor, announced the group would compile a confidential list of names linked to Epstein’s network. “We know the names,” she said. “Many of us were abused by them. Now, together as survivors, we will confidentially compile the names we all know, who are regularly in the Epstein world.”
The Royals’ decision underscores mounting evidence that Epstein’s operation extended far beyond himself, fueling suspicions he trafficked minors for powerful figures. The DOJ’s continued denial of credible evidence has drawn sharp criticism.
