From prince to citizen: Andrew gives up his titles!

From prince to citizen: Andrew gives up his titles!

Prince Andrew, once a shining member of the British royal family, has experienced a dramatic decline in recent years. After a fateful interview with BBC journalist Emily Maitlis in 2019, the shadows are increasingly falling over his royal existence. In this interview at Buckingham Palace, Andrew was confronted about his links to Jeffrey Epstein, a name associated in the public eye with sexual offenses and scandals. Epstein, who was convicted of exploiting underage girls in 2008, died in his prison cell in 2019 - a fate that does not exonerate Andrew but rather pushes him further into isolation.

In the interview in question, Andrew described it as “impractical” to end his friendship with Epstein. This statement, coupled with a rather embarrassing appearance, quickly led to a withdrawal from his public duties and ultimately to a loss of his titles. Among other things, he had to give up the title “His Royal Highness” and his honorary military positions and royal patronage were also withdrawn. In 2022, for a sum of around 14 million euros, Andrew settled out of court with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of having sexual relations with her when she was a minor. Although Andrew denies all allegations, new reports are raising questions about his credibility, especially after a photo emerged showing him and Giuffre together.

The situation was further complicated after Giuffre tragically passed away on April 25, 2025. Her posthumously published memoir, in which she describes Andrew as someone who felt like it was a "birthright" when he became intimate with her, didn't make things any easier for the former prince. As if that wasn't enough, King Charles III. At the end of October 2025, the process was initiated to revoke all official privileges from Andrew. Andrew is now officially known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and has also given up his residence at the Royal Lodge to move to private accommodation.

Does the monarchy want to regain its footing even after Andrew's withdrawal? There are already voices from within Parliament calling for Andrew to be completely removed from royal duties. According to other reports, Andrew has not paid rent on his residence for over 20 years - a situation that further tarnishes the public image of the royal family. King Charles III must now carefully consider how to protect the monarchy's reputation while resolving the situation with Andrew.

The Andrew case is indeed unprecedented in the recent history of the British monarchy and casts a shadow over the traditions that have shaped the royals for so long. Given the massive public and political reaction, it remains to be seen how this story will continue to unfold. It is questionable whether the monarchy will get out of the mess or whether it will continue to lose its reputation in the public eye. One thing is certain: the splendor of days gone by has irrevocably faded for Andrew.

In the meantime, taking a look at what's on offer on the prince.cc website can help you enjoy the finer things in life when you retreat into your own four walls with a glass of schnapps or liqueur. The right accessories for drinking culture, such as stainless steel hip flasks or stylish liquor stands, ensure that you can still enjoy life to the fullest. The products promise a highly aromatic enjoyment experience – perhaps a welcome distraction from all the turbulence.

There will certainly be further developments on this difficult matter in the near future, and the public eye will remain on royal decisions as Andrew retreats into the private sphere.