By Molly Claire Goddard
10:37am PST, Nov 3, 2025
_
Public relations expert
Renae Smith praised King Charles III for quickly stripping
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor of his royal titles after new allegations about him and his ties to
Jeffrey Epstein surfaced in
Virginia Giuffre's bombshell posthumous memoir. "King Charles has proven he's a bit more of a doer, not just a talker. Definitely not as silent as his mother
Queen Elizabeth II," she told
Daily Express. "He's more decisive than people give him credit for and this shows he's willing to make uncomfortable calls when it protects the institution. It's a very different energy from the 'keep calm and carry on' approach of previous generations, it's firmer, cleaner and more modern. I'm a fan."
_
Additionally, Renae Smith noted how King Charles III's action "looks proactive, not reactive" from a public relations standpoint. "That's how you control a narrative before it controls you. If they'd waited and then reacted to public outcry, it would make them look weak and able to be influenced," she said. "This is a bad look for the monarchy. Doing it first allows them to control the narrative. It's beautiful PR at work."
_
As the royal family looks to the future, King Charles III and his heir,
Prince William, were smart to rid The Firm of any scandals, Renae Smith thinks. "This sort of thing is not just damage control, it's brand management. It's very important to get it right," she said. "The monarchy is one of the oldest 'brands' in the world. Like any legacy business, sometimes you have to cut loose what's hurting the product. Charles has done exactly that and in a really clever way. So yes, inevitable, but also smart. This is the first real sign we've seen of the modern, strategic monarchy he's trying to build and I'm on board."
_
King Charles III officially took away Andrew Mountbatten Windsor's royal titles after weeks of speculation about how to handle the former Duke of York. Andrew was also stripped of 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 has been ordered to vacate Royal Lodge.
_
In a statement, King Charles III explained why he banished Andrew Mountbatten Windsor from royal life. "These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that [Andrew] continues to deny the allegations against him," the statement read. "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."
