Inside King Charles’ Complicated Relationship With Prince Andrew

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Queen Elizabeth II knew how much Prince Philip wanted their children to carry his name.

The surname Mountbatten-Windsor wasn’t officially used until 1960, when Prince Andrew was born. It was created to apply to the direct male descendants of the Queen and Prince Philip who didn’t have royal titles, combining both of their family names.

Neither the late Queen nor Prince Philip could have imagined that, 65 years later, their son Andrew would be known as Mountbatten-Windsor, a change insisted upon by his older brother, King Charles III.

Royal correspondent Sharon Carpenter explained to TopMob News that the decision regarding Prince Andrew’s titles came about because the situation was unsustainable. She said his continued association was damaging to the royal family and its reputation, creating an ongoing problem.

Charles, who will be 77 on November 14th, also had to figure out what to do with his brother after their mother passed away in September 2022. It was another difficult problem he inherited.

In November 2019, the king’s brother stopped carrying out royal duties following public attention to his past connection with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. His interview on the BBC’s Newsnight was particularly confusing to observers, who questioned why the palace had allowed it to happen.

Despite consistently denying any misconduct, Andrew continues to be a public figure, though he’s no longer an active, senior member of the royal family. Before his forced retirement, he participated in around 400 public events each year.

When Charles became king, his first priority wasn’t planning his coronation. He needed to convince the people of the United Kingdom that the monarchy would continue to function well under his leadership, just as it had for the majority of his mother’s 70 years as queen.

Andrew continued to appear at important public events, including the September 16th funeral of the Duchess of Kent, where he was seen near Charles, Princess Anne, Prince William, and Kate Middleton.

Given the growing concerns surrounding him, Andrew had become a problem for the organization for a while, according to Carpenter. That’s why, on October 17th, he announced he would step down from his position and relinquish any remaining honors.

Andrew was most well-known as the Duke of York, a title his mother gave him when he married Sarah Ferguson in 1986. She is now known as the former Duchess of York.

After talking with The King and my family, I’ve decided the ongoing accusations against me are taking attention away from the important work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” Andrew said. “As I’ve always done, I’m prioritizing my family and country.

The palace announced on October 30th that King Charles had begun the official process of removing Prince Andrew’s royal titles and honors, effectively changing his name to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. He will remain eighth in line to the throne, and the titles of his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will not be impacted.

As part of a major life change, I’m hearing Andrew had to give up Royal Lodge, that incredible 30-room estate in Windsor Great Park he’d been living in since 2004 – he’d covered the renovation costs, so it was essentially rent-free. He’s now moving into a private residence. And Sarah, who had been sharing the Lodge with him since 2008, is now responsible for finding her own place to live. It’s a big adjustment for both of them, downsizing and starting fresh!

Andrew will be living on King Charles’s estate in Norfolk, called Sandringham. Charles had anticipated this arrangement, and knew he might have to take further steps than simply removing Andrew’s military titles and royal roles, which is what happened in January 2022.

Even though she eventually approved his departure from royal life, the Queen remained a steadfast supporter of Prince Andrew. Many believed it was significant that she was seen riding with him just two days after he announced he would step down from his royal duties in 2019, suggesting she still stood by him.

But a similar sign of solidarity from Charles should not be expected.

Family loyalty has been strong until now, but the king is making it clear he won’t accept ongoing scandals that could threaten the monarchy’s future. He’s prioritizing the stability of the royal institution above all else, even family matters.

And when it came to Andrew, the only remaining option was to get him literally out of the picture.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m predicting we won’t be seeing him alongside any of the senior royals in public appearances for quite some time. I anticipate this will be noticeable during the traditional Christmas walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church, and likely for many Christmases to come. It seems a prolonged period of separation is expected.

With increasing calls for King Charles to separate himself from his brother Andrew, royal commentator Carpenter described the King’s decision as the final step in ending Andrew’s public role.

According to the expert, Andrew’s relationships with his family are probably worse than ever. She also stated that unless public opinion changes significantly, he won’t be returning to public life. Essentially, he’s now a private citizen with a royal background.

See all the news that has roiled the royal world in 2025:

Following Prince Andrew’s decision to step down as Duke of York, King Charles III announced that his brother would also lose his home at Royal Lodge and no longer be known as Prince.

Buckingham Palace announced today that King Charles has begun the official process of removing Prince Andrew’s royal titles and honors. He will now be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, has announced he will stop using the title Duke of York. This decision comes after ongoing public concern about his relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of sex offenses.

“In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” Andrew said in the statement released by Buckingham Palace. “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.”

Andrew stated that, with the King’s approval, he was taking things a step further. He would be giving up his royal title and any honors he’d received. He also reiterated that he strongly denied the allegations made against him.

 

In October 2025, the King and his oldest son attended the Countdown to COP30 event at the Natural History Museum in London.

The couple took photos outside the museum and then went inside to talk with government officials and activists focused on fighting climate change. This event happened before the COP30 World Leaders Summit in Belém, Brazil, next November, which Prince William will attend in place of his father.

In September 2025, Sarah, Duchess of York, stepped down as a patron of Julia’s House after an old email from 2011 to Jeffrey Epstein surfaced. In the email, she referred to him as a friend.

After reports surfaced this weekend about the Duchess of York’s communication with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia’s House has decided it’s best for her to step down as a patron of the charity. The charity has informed the Duchess of this decision and expressed gratitude for her previous contributions, according to The Guardian.

According to a representative from Ferguson, the email was sent following a threat she received from Epstein.

After a 19-month absence, Prince Harry was spotted arriving at Clarence House—the King’s home in London—apparently to visit his father before attending another event in the city.

Harry arrived at the house around 5:20 p.m. on September 10th, but Charles had come back just a few hours earlier.

Princess Anne’s son and his girlfriend, Harriet Sperling, announced their engagement on August 1st. They had been dating for over a year. His father is Mark Phillips.

The couple’s spokesperson told Hello! magazine that both families were told about the engagement at the same time and were very happy about it.

Just a day before turning 78, the royal was made an honorary Vice Admiral by the Royal Navy.

Camilla is the first woman to receive this honorary title. It’s awarded only by the monarch—in this case, her husband, King Charles III—based on a recommendation from the First Sea Lord, currently Sir Gwyn Jenkins.

Just hours before she was scheduled to attend, Princess Catherine canceled her appearance at Royal Ascot, the annual horse race. Kensington Palace confirmed the news to NBC News.

Oh my gosh, I just read that Kate is so bummed she couldn’t be at the event! Apparently, she’s still trying to figure things out, you know? She wants to do her royal duties, but she’s also gotta listen to her body after everything she’s been through with her cancer. It’s just… she’s being so strong and careful, and I completely understand her needing to find the right balance. I’m just sending all my love and hoping she feels better soon!

Prince Harry’s lawsuit seeking extra security ended on May 2nd when a court dismissed it. This came more than a year after a previous request for increased protection was denied by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee.

After Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals in 2021 and moved to the US, their publicly-funded security was reduced. However, Harry continued to request security arrangements whenever he returned to the UK.

Prince Harry told the BBC on May 2nd that he was deeply upset by the outcome of his recent legal fight. He stated that, as things currently stand, he doesn’t foresee returning to the UK with his wife and children.

In an interview with the BBC on May 2nd, Prince Harry said his father, King Charles III, isn’t currently speaking to him due to disagreements about security arrangements. However, he expressed hope that they could repair their relationship.

Prince Harry expressed a desire to rebuild his relationship with his family, including his father, but indicated the decision to move forward rests with his dad.

He doesn’t foresee returning to the U.K. with his family anytime soon. He expressed sadness at the thought of his children not getting to know his home country.

Harry explained that his father has significant influence and could potentially solve the situation. He doesn’t need to get directly involved; simply letting the professionals handle things would likely be enough.

After years of fighting, he’s now seeking peace and a way to make amends. He explained, “Life is short, and my father doesn’t have much time left.”

More than a year after revealing his cancer diagnosis, King Charles wrote on April 29th that going through treatment has highlighted the kindness and goodness in people.

In a booklet offering support to cancer patients and their families, Charles wrote that receiving a diagnosis is understandably scary. However, drawing from his own experience, he also believes it can reveal the incredible kindness and strength people are capable of.

He expressed his gratitude to the healthcare workers who cared for him, and shared that the experience deepened his respect for the incredible work done by the organizations and people present, many of whom he’d known and supported for years.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – were absent from the royal family’s traditional Easter service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor on April 20th.

I was surprised to hear that while King Charles and Queen Camilla were enjoying celebrations with the family, Prince William and Kate chose to spend the weekend at their country home in Norfolk with the children. Several news sources have reported on it, and it seems they just preferred a more private family time.

This was the second Easter the couple missed. It happened just a week after Princess Kate announced she was being treated for cancer.

On April 15th, Jason Knauf was named the new Chief Executive Officer of Prince William’s environmental initiative, The Earthshot Prize. In a statement published on the organization’s website, Knauf expressed his excitement about collaborating with the team and community to further their goal of inspiring positive change for the planet.

He was promoted almost seven years after he raised concerns about Meghan Markle’s behavior, claiming she bullied two personal assistants and tried to discredit another staff member. Representatives for the Sussexes denied these claims, telling The Times that the story was a deliberate attempt to damage their reputation with false information.

Buckingham Palace looked into the claims, but the investigation concluded in 2022 with no public report on the results.

William and Kate’s eldest son George attended a soccer match in Paris alongside his dad April 7. 

A father and son happily watched the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa at Parc des Princes stadium.

Graham Craker, a former bodyguard to Prince Harry and Prince William, passed away in April at the age of 77.

Craker was with Princes William and Harry when they found out their mother, Princess Diana, had passed away, and he was present at her funeral.

In 2017, Craker told The New York Post that he saw Prince William during the procession. He explained that he was standing near the back of the hearse when Prince William looked up and briefly acknowledged him with a nod. Craker felt this reassured the Prince, knowing his mother was accompanied on her last journey.

Hugh Grosvenor, the godson of King Charles III, and his wife, Olivia Grosvenor, shared the happy news on March 12th that they are expecting their first child.

A spokesperson announced to The Telegraph that the duchess is pregnant and expecting a baby this summer. The couple expressed their joy and excitement about starting a family.

Prince Frederik, the son of Prince Robert and Princess Julie, passed away on March 1st at the age of 22 after a long illness. He had a rare genetic condition called PolG mitochondrial disease.

Robert shared in a statement that his son, Frederik, is a superhero – not just to their family and friends, but to countless people around the globe, especially because of Frederik’s PolG Foundation. Robert explained that Frederik’s strength came from his ability to inspire others and lead through his own actions.

 

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, reached a legal settlement with News Group Newspapers – the publisher of both The Sun and the now-closed News of the World – on January 22nd. He had sued the organization in 2019, claiming that journalists and investigators working for its newspapers illegally obtained information about the royal family.

According to NBC News, the settlement involved the company paying a significant amount in damages and offering Harry a complete and sincere apology. They also publicly admitted to the widespread and harmful coverage that invaded both his privacy and the privacy of his mother, Princess Diana.

On January 14th, The Princess of Wales shared the wonderful news that her cancer treatment has been successful and she is now in remission.

She announced on X (formerly Twitter) on January 14th that her cancer is in remission and she’s concentrating on getting better. She added that, like anyone facing a cancer diagnosis, she’s still adjusting to life after it.

She added that she’s optimistic about the year ahead and excited for what’s to come.

Oh my gosh, I’m absolutely heartbroken for Meghan! Apparently, her sweet rescue beagle, the one she adopted way back in 2015 – even before she met Prince Harry! – just passed away. I mean, she clearly adored that little pup, and it’s just so sad to think of her grieving. I’ve followed her journey for years, and knowing how much she loves animals, this must be devastating for her.

On January 7th, she shared a heartfelt message on Instagram about crying so much that it felt overwhelming. She described the feeling of hoping the shower could wash away the pain, even though she knew it wouldn’t. Ultimately, she acknowledged that it was okay to feel those emotions.

Meghan shared a heartfelt message, saying, “Thank you, my sweet Guy, for loving me unconditionally all these years. You brought so much joy to my life.”

 

Oh my god, I can’t believe it. Ed Pettifer, Tiggy Legge-Bourke’s stepson – you know, Tiggy was William and Harry’s nanny for years! – he was one of the people killed in that awful attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. It’s just… heartbreaking. I always saw pictures of him with Tiggy and the Princes when they were little, he seemed like such a sweet guy. Absolutely devastating news.

Prince William and Princess Catherine were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Ed Pettifer. In a message shared on Princess Catherine’s Instagram on January 4th, Prince William stated their thoughts are with the Pettifer family and everyone affected by this terrible tragedy.

Meghan Markle, known for her role in the TV show Suits, launched her own Instagram account on January 1st. She had previously closed her personal social media accounts just before marrying Prince Harry in 2018.

The next day, she revealed a new Netflix series called With Love, Meghan. A press release described it as a fresh take on lifestyle shows, combining helpful tips and honest chats with both familiar and new friends.

I was so thrilled to see Prince William and Princess Kate bring Prince George and Princess Charlotte to Wimbledon in June 2025! It’s a rare treat to get a glimpse of them enjoying a family day out like that.

The family shared on Instagram how happy they were to be back at Wimbledon for the championships this weekend. They congratulated Iga Świątek and Jannik Sinner on their victories and thanked everyone who helped make the tournament such a success.

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2025-11-14 14:19