Royal expert says move to strip Andrew’s title risks disgrace for the family
King Charles faces mounting pressure over how to handle Prince Andrew’s role within the monarchy, as questions resurface about his past associations and whether the King will impose new sanctions.
The scandal has been reignited by leaked emails from Sarah Ferguson to Jeffrey Epstein in 2011, in which she appeared to apologise for publicly distancing herself from him. The fresh revelations have put renewed focus on Andrew and the Duke’s ties to the disgraced financier.
Reports suggest the monarch may consider revoking Andrew’s membership in the Order of the Garter, Britain’s oldest and most distinguished order of chivalry. Such a move would represent a striking break from royal tradition.
However, veteran commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has cautioned that the decision could prove damaging. He stressed that removing Andrew from the order would be “unprecedented in peacetime” and could backfire, casting the monarchy itself into disrepute.
The last comparable instance occurred during the Second World War, when Emperor Hirohito of Japan was stripped of his Garter knighthood. Any attempt to do the same to Andrew, Fitzwilliams noted, would be historic and fraught with risk for King Charles and the institution he leads.
