The disgraced Duke continues to lose privileges: every symbol of his role at court has been eliminated and the pressure from the King to make him leave the historic villa of Windsor is growing.
After being forced to renounce the title of Duke of York, Prince Andrew now finds himself having to deal with two other “humiliations”: the removal of his banner in St George’s Chapel in Windsor and the growing pressure from the sovereign Charles III to leave his residence, the Royal Lodge.
The renunciation of the title of Duke
Born in 1960, Andrea is the third child of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. For decades it has represented, albeit in secondary roles compared to the heirs to the throne, a part of the institutional scheme of the Windsors. However, a series of scandals – first of all the relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and the accusations made by Virginia Giuffre – have profoundly damaged his public image and position within the royal family.
Over the years, Andrea has progressively lost official roles and patronages; today – while maintaining the title of “prince” that he is entitled to by birth – his active participation in the functions of the monarchy is practically eliminated.
The removal of the banner in St George’s Chapel
One of the most significant developments is the recent removal of his heraldic standard from St George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle. Specifically, the banner bearing his personal coat of arms — as a member of the Order of the Garter — was removed from the chapel, in a gesture that royal experts call “exceptional” and “historically reserved for cases of high treason or rebellion.”
The event takes on a double meaning: on the one hand it signals the monarchy’s desire to mark a significant distance towards Andrea; on the other it represents a visible and ritualized step of disengagement by the Crown towards him. Although Andrea is not in fact formally expelled from the Order, the gesture clearly takes on a strong symbolic value, reiterating that his official position within the Royal Family is now marginalized.
The pressure to leave Royal Lodge
At the same time, details emerge of growing pressure from Charles III for Andrew to abandon his residence at Royal Lodge, located near Windsor. Andrea has a very long rental contract (which, according to rumors, he has not paid for over 20 years) for that property, but the monarchy is reportedly negotiating with him for a consensual exit.
As reported by The SunPrince Andrew would be willing to move only in exchange for the sale of Frogmore Cottage and Adelaide Cottage, respectively belonging to Harry and William. In fact, Andrea would like to move into the first property, while his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson would like to move into the neighboring one.
