The government says it has no plans to pass a law to formally remove Andrew Mountbatten Windsor from the line of succession
Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne and it would take an act of Parliament to formally remove him - passing a law to change that would be complex, writes our political reporter
Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday that Andrew would lose all his royal titles and leave his 30-room mansion in Windsor - but he won't leave Royal Lodge immediately, sources say
The dramatic statement on Thursday night came after months of pressure over Andrew's private life
In a posthumous memoir published this month, Virginia Giuffre repeated allegations that, as a teenager, she had sex with Andrew on three separate occasions – Andrew has always denied the claims
Giuffre's brother, Sky Roberts, welcomes the King's move against Andrew - but tells BBC Newsnight: "It's not enough - we have to have some sort of investigation that goes further into this"
Despite being stripped of his "prince" title today, Andrew is still eighth in line for the throne, according to Buckingham Palace.
The order of succession to the King is as follows:
1. The Prince of Wales (William)
2. Prince George of Wales
3. Princess Charlotte of Wales
4. Prince Louis of Wales
5. The Duke of Sussex (Prince Harry)
6. Prince Archie of Sussex
7. Princess Lilibet of Sussex
8. Andrew
Noor Nanji
Culture reporter
That’s the million pound question.
Andrew relinquishing his titles didn’t seem to make much difference to the continued damaging headlines about him. If anything, the scrutiny has intensified in recent weeks.
But this is the ultimate sanction. His prince title, gone. His Windsor mansion, also gone.
The Palace will hope fervently that this move is successful in drawing a line under the scandals.
"These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him," it said.
What we don’t know is if there will be any further disclosures about Andrew, or whether this will satisfy the public disquiet about him.
Noor Nanji
Culture reporter
Andrew's removal from the last vestiges of royal life is not only reshaping his future - it's sending ripples through his family too.
When he gave up his Duke of York title a few weeks ago, his ex-wife also lost her duchess title and is now simply known as Sarah Ferguson.
But their daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, continued to have the title of princess.
And even after today’s developments, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice will retain their titles, as they are the daughters of the son of a Sovereign.
That will have been a key consideration for Andrew in any negotiations, and is a small victory for him.
But the palace will also want to be seen as doing the right thing by Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35.
They remain much loved nieces of the King, royal author Katie Nicholl recently told me - notwithstanding the scandal surrounding their parents.
Image source, WireImageIt is understood that Sarah Ferguson, Andrew's ex-wife, will also move out of Royal Lodge and will make her own living arrangements.
Ferguson, 66, is the mother of Andrew's two children, the princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Although she and Andrew divorced in 1996, they maintain a close relationship and Ferguson remained at Royal Lodge with her ex-husband.
Until this month, Ferguson kept the title Sarah, Duchess of York - but she reverted to her maiden name of Ferguson after Andrew voluntarily gave up the usage of the Duke of York title.
Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Windsor
The last words in the Palace statement are telling – that the King and Queen’s thoughts have been, and always will be, "with the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse".
If we look back at the statement that Andrew issued a few weeks ago - when he announced that he was giving up his other titles and honours - there was no mention of thoughts or sympathies of victims and survivors.
Prince Andrew: Key moments from his explosive Newsnight interview
It's been almost six years since Andrew’s BBC Newsnight interview – which led to him stepping back from royal duties in 2019. So why has he lost his "prince" title now?
"They’re finally getting ahead of the story, but this isn’t the end of it," says historian and author Andrew Lownie, who earlier this year published his Entitled: The rise and fall of the House of York.
He tells the BBC the Palace is "finally taking some decisive action" - but it "won’t completely satisfy the public disquiet".
As for how Andrew is feeling, the author says it’s a "huge humiliation" for Andrew.
"He’s been very depressed about it all, even though he’s been defiant in public," Lownie says.
Image source, Getty ImagesAndrew Lownie, signing his books earlier this year
Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent
After accusations that the Palace had done too little too late, this is now a root and branch attempt to draw a line under the scandal surrounding the former Prince Andrew - now plain Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
All the titles are being formally removed and not simply not being used. That includes the status of "prince".
There is also an end to the row over Andrew living in Royal Lodge. He’ll move to Sandringham, a property privately owned by the monarch, rather than by the Crown Estate.
This is even more dramatic fall from grace for Andrew - with royal sources saying the decision reflects how seriously his lapses of judgement are being taken.
Andrew, who has consistently denied allegations against him, is said not have objected to the changes.
It’s hard to imagine that he had much choice.
Andrew has received formal notice to surrender the lease on his Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge.
The move is set to take place as soon as it is practicable, it is understood.
Andrew is understood not to have objected to the King's decision to remove his titles.
The decision was made, and action taken, due to serious lapses in Andrew’s judgement, it is understood. Andrew continues to deny the accusations against him.
It is also understood that the government was consulted - it made clear it supports the decision.
Noor Nanji
Culture reporter
After a couple of weeks of intense scrutiny on Prince Andrew, it did feel as if an announcement like this was a case of when, not if.
But it still can’t be overstated how significant a move this is.
For someone who enjoys the trappings of royal life, this will be a personal blow, and likely very humiliating, for Andrew.
He is losing his prince title, and leaving his Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge – just weeks after giving up his other royal titles, including the Duke of York.
The negotiations won’t have been easy. But the palace will have been well aware of the mood music, and how all of this looks to the public.
There has been an increased focus on Andrew’s links to Jeffrey Epstein, and today it’s clear that that pressure just got too much.
Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.
But the last words in today’s statement are telling. The King and Queen are making it very clear that their “thoughts and utmost sympathies” have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.
Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice will retain their titles, as they are the daughters of the son of a Sovereign.
This is in line with King George V's Letters Patent of 1917.
Image source, PA MediaPrincess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, and their mother Sarah during a visit to the Teenage Cancer Trust unit at University College Hospital, London, earlier this year
It's understood that Prince Andrew will move to a property on the private Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
It will be privately funded by the King.
We can now bring you the full statement from Buckingham Palace:
His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.
Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation. 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.
Prince Andrew will lose his title and move out of Royal Lodge, a statement from Buckingham Palace says.
"Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor," it adds.
This is a breaking news story, stay with us for more details.