Prince Andrew Stripped of Last Military Rank Amid Scandal

In a decisive move, the UK government announced Sunday that Prince Andrew will be stripped of his final remaining military title, vice-admiral, marking the end of his formal ties to the armed forces. The decision comes after years of controversy surrounding the prince’s connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew had already lost other honorary military roles in 2022, following legal action by Virginia Giuffre, Epstein’s accuser. Speaking to the BBC, Defence Minister John Healey confirmed the government is acting “guided by the king” to remove the vice-admiral title, while discussions about Andrew’s military medals are ongoing.

Once celebrated for his service as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War, Andrew retired in 2001 after more than two decades in the navy. The loss of his last military title signals a complete severance from the honors he earned during his career.

The controversy has further intensified after the posthumous release of Giuffre’s memoir, which alleges she was trafficked to have sex with Andrew on multiple occasions, including when she was 17. Buckingham Palace has since announced that Andrew will now be formally known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, stating that the censures are “deemed necessary” despite his denials.

Royal insiders told the Sunday Times that the move was unprecedented, with the king and Queen Camilla prioritizing the acknowledgment of victims’ voices and mitigating reputational damage to the monarchy. Media reports note that Andrew has consistently avoided public statements acknowledging victims since his widely criticized 2019 BBC interview.

Even international figures have weighed in, with former US President Donald Trump expressing sympathy for the royal family, calling the situation “tragic” and acknowledging its strain on family reputation.

This latest action marks a significant chapter in the ongoing fallout from the Epstein scandal, signaling a final step in Prince Andrew’s removal from public and military prominence, and reflecting the monarchy’s effort to distance itself from long-standing controversy.