The former Duke of York loses his honorary military rank while King Charles aims to put an end to the continuing controversy involving his brother's relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor is losing his honorary rank of vice-admiral, which he obtained in 2015 and kept even after relinquishing other military positions in 2022.
The defense minister confirmed on Sunday that ministers were working with the king to strip his military titles.
"In general, the administration follows the rulings and determinations the king has made. In defence, it's precisely identical," Healey stated.
When questioned about the former duke could lose his military medals as well, the minister answered that they were "awards recognizing his military career" and continued: "There's no current information on that, but similar to his naval title, we would be directed by the decisions the king makes."
Mountbatten Windsor has been facing fresh examination over his connections with Epstein following the publication of posthumous memoirs by Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was forced to have sex with Mountbatten Windsor on three occasions, including when she was 17 years old.
Newly released emails demonstrate that the ex-royal contacted Epstein in 2010 after the latter was released from jail on allegations involving sex trafficking.
Through email exchanges made public recently, the disgraced financier proposed that Mountbatten Windsor meet former JP Morgan executive Jes Staley, who was prohibited from the UK banking sector for life in June for misleading the watchdog about his connections to Epstein.
The former duke served in the navy for more than two decades, including as a aircraft commander during the Falklands war. After a civil case was initiated three years ago, he stopped using most of his armed forces honors but kept the rank of vice-admiral.
The navy pension is his only current source of official earnings after serving between 1979 and 2001, amounting to twenty thousand pounds annually.
Royal officials officially declared last week he would lose the titles of royal titles, as well as being required to vacate his residence at Royal Lodge and relocate to personal housing in Sandringham.
Palace officials had worked with civil servants in the government department to avoid the decision having to be approved by lawmakers, eventually agreeing that the king should abolish the dukedom entirely using his monarchical authority.
While the loss of his titles comes into effect right away, the former prince is not anticipated to vacate Royal Lodge until following the holidays, meaning he will not be in attendance when the royals gather at Sandringham for the holiday.
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