Andrew Still Has 1 Title Left Amid Reports He Used His ‘Position’ to ‘Bribe’ Charles—It Was ‘Basically’ an ‘Ultimatum’
Things haven’t been looking good for the former Prince Andrew. He has been stripped of his titles, ordered to vacate his mansion at Royal Lodge, and some reports even indicate he could face jail time. But it’s not just about his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. All of Andrew’s misconducts have been coming out amid the latest chapter of the Epstein scandal, and the royal family is doing its best to separate itself from the drama.
However, amid the scandal and the removal of Andrew’s titles, there’s one he retains. Andrew is still the title of Vice Admiral of the Royal Navy, a military rank he was given by his mother, Queen Elizabeth, in 2015 for his 55th birthday. Andrew served in the Royal Navy for 22 years. He was supposed to obtain the admiral title in 2020 for his 60th birthday; however, the royal family decided against it after the 2019 Newsnight interview where Andrew addressed his relationship with Epstein.
Related: Here’s what each royal inherited from Queen Elizabeth
All of Andrew’s other military titles were stripped in 2022. However, this one has yet to be removed. We can, however, expect that it will happen sooner rather than later. Not that long ago, defense secretary John Healy told the BBC that the government was “working to remove” the honor at King Charles’s request. “This is a move that’s right. It’s a move the King has indicated we should take, and we’re working on that at the moment,” he shared at the time.
The Times is reporting that, as of now, that step has not been taking, with the process still “ongoing.” No reason was given for the delay. “Defense continues to act in line with His Majesty’s intent regarding the process to remove the style, titles and honors of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor,” a spokesperson said.
This comes after RadarOnline.com reported that Andrew giving up his titles didn’t come easy. Royal biographer Andrew Lownie said, “He’d been holding out for all sorts of requirements,” adding, “One is that he has a proper staff at his new home; two, that that position is guaranteed when (Prince William) imparts the throne; three, that he was paid large sums of money, not just an allowance, just to get out.”
Reports indicate that Andrew was pressured into making the decision, and his daughters were the bargaining chip. One source said, “The signal couldn’t have been clearer. Beatrice and Eugenie would be protected, but only if Andrew stood down. Their titles, positions, and future roles were very much part of the discussion.”
Another added: “It wasn’t presented as an ultimatum, but the meaning was obvious – it was basically a bribe, but put in the most polite language. Had Andrew continued to dig in, the King and Prince William would have been forced to look at broader changes for his daughters.”
In conclusion, at least for now, Andrew retains one military title. But we should expect that one to be stripped very soon, too. Then Andrew will just be another commoner, one who might perhaps end up facing real justice soon.
