Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Stripped of Two More Honours

The decision, published in The Gazette, is the latest and most definitive move to sideline the King's brother, whose name appeared 173 times in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been formally stripped of two more prestigious honours, deepening the symbolic and personal consequences of his ongoing fall from grace.

A notice published in The Gazette confirmed that the King has directed the removal of Mountbatten-Windsor's titles as both a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter and a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

His appointments, originally granted in April 2006 and February 2011 respectively, have now been "cancelled and annulled" — with the striking line that "his name shall be erased from the Register of the said Order."

The official wording underscores the finality of the move, which was widely expected following previous decisions to distance the former Duke from royal duties. Yet, for many, this moment marks a particularly pointed conclusion to a process that began months earlier.

On October 30, it was confirmed that Mountbatten-Windsor would be relinquishing all remaining royal titles, including his use of the style Duke of York.

This latest step — executed through an announcement laden with legal precision — serves as the final endorsement of that decision. Royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills captured the sentiment, noting:

"The phrase 'his name shall be erased' feels particularly blunt when you consider the emotional impact on the family."

She also described the moment as "one brother cancelling another," pointing to the personal weight behind the King's directive.

While steeped in ceremonial formality, the removal of these honours is widely seen as a calculated effort by His Majesty to draw a definitive line between the institution and his brother's past associations — particularly his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The fallout from that connection continues to shape Mountbatten-Windsor's public standing. His name has remained a lightning rod for controversy since settling a civil lawsuit in 2022 with Virginia Giuffre, who alleged she was trafficked to him by Epstein and sexually assaulted by the former royal when she was 17.

The so-called Epstein files contained more than 300 gigabytes of data, including disturbing images and videos.

The undisclosed out-of-court settlement included a substantial donation to her charity for victims' rights, though it contained no admission of guilt. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied the allegations.

Still, his decision to settle the case avoided a potentially explosive public trial and helped shield the royal family from further reputational harm. Legal experts estimated the cost to be in excess of $10 million — approximately £7 million — not including mounting legal fees.

The spectre of Epstein resurfaced earlier this year when the U.S. Department of Justice released a vast trove of material from its investigation into the disgraced financier.

The so-called Epstein files contained more than 300 gigabytes of data, including disturbing images and videos. While much of the content remains sealed to protect victims, a list of individuals named in the documents was disclosed.

Mountbatten-Windsor appeared in the files 173 times — far more than any other British individual named. Other British figures included David Beckham, Naomi Campbell, Adele, Mick Jagger, Stephen Hawking (17 mentions), Princess Diana (14 mentions), Sarah Ferguson (nine mentions), and Queen Camilla (nine mentions).

The documents also featured high-profile international figures such as Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, and Michael Jackson. All were named in connection to Epstein in various capacities, including social contact, business discussions, or legal proceedings tied to lawsuits involving Ghislaine Maxwell.

The royal household, long intent on protecting its standing, has since moved with quiet but decisive resolve to separate itself from the scandal.

Some individuals were drawn in only peripherally — for example, for having flown on Epstein's jet or attended events. However, it is important to note that being named in the files does not indicate wrongdoing.

A committee overseeing the document review stressed that names appeared in multiple contexts and that no assumptions of guilt should be drawn. Many individuals named in the files have never been formally accused of any crime related to Epstein's offences and deny any involvement in his criminal activities.

Still, Mountbatten-Windsor's prominence within the files and the scale of his mentions only served to reinforce public unease, adding pressure to an already fraught situation.

The royal household, long intent on protecting its standing, has since moved with quiet but decisive resolve to separate itself from the scandal.

Now, with the erasure of his name from two of the monarchy's highest orders, the message is unmistakable — Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been formally and symbolically removed from the heart of royal life.

Whether that remains the final chapter in his public story, only time will tell. But for now, the palace has made its position clear and left little room for ambiguity.