By Molly Claire Goddard
11:37am PDT, Oct 31, 2025
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Despite
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor being stripped of his royal titles due to his ties to
Jeffrey Epstein, there's still one position within The Firm he'll get to keep.
Keep reading to learn what it is…MORE:
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Buckingham Palace
confirmed Andrew Mountbatten Windsor retains his position as a Counsellor of State. However, the disgraced royal will never be called on to act on behalf of
King Charles III.
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Counsellors of State are senior members of the royal family — the sovereign's spouse and first four people in the line of succession over the age of 21 — who are authorized to act on the monarch's behalf when necessary. King Charles III's Counsellors of State are his wife,
Queen Camilla, his sons
Prince William and
Prince Harry, the oldest of his younger siblings, brother Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, and the older of Andrew's two daughters,
Princess Beatrice.
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After months of speculation, King Charles III announced he was officially stripping Andrew Mountbatten Windsor of his titles over his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein and the misconduct allegations against him. "These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him," the king said of the former Prince Andrew. "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."
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Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will no longer be known as the Duke of York or His Royal Highness. The father of two also lost his position as Knight of the Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. Queen Elizabeth II previously removed his military and charity patronages in 2022. Additionally, Andrew will be moving out of Royal Lodge.
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Before the removal became official, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor relinquished his title as the Duke of York. "In discussion with King Charles III and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life," he said in a statement. "With His Majesty's agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honors which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me."
