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The former Duke of York will be stripped of his honorary military rank while the monarch seeks to draw a line under the ongoing scandal surrounding his connections with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Stripping of Honors Underway

The former prince faces removal of his military title of vice-admiral, which he obtained in 2015 and kept even after giving up other military positions in 2022.

Defence Secretary John Healey announced on Sunday that government officials were collaborating with the king to strip his military titles.

"Typically, the government has been guided by the decisions and judgments the king has made. In defence, it's precisely identical," the defense secretary said.

Further Repercussions

Asked whether the former duke could forfeit his service awards as well, Healey responded that they were "medals for his service" and continued: "There's no current information on that, but just as with his naval title, we would be directed by the judgments the king makes."

Background Context

Mountbatten Windsor has been under renewed scrutiny over his ties to Epstein following the publication of posthumous memoirs by Virginia Giuffre, who alleges she was compelled into sexual encounters with Mountbatten Windsor on multiple instances, including when she was a teenager.

Recently disclosed emails demonstrate that the ex-royal contacted Epstein in 2010 after the financier got out from jail on charges of soliciting prostitution.

In the correspondence released on Friday, the convicted sex offender suggested that Andrew meet former JP Morgan executive Jes Staley, who was banned from the UK banking sector for life in June for misleading the watchdog about his connections to Epstein.

Naval Career

The former duke was a member of the navy for over 20 years, including as a aircraft commander during the Falklands war. After Giuffre filed three years ago, he ceased utilizing most of his armed forces honors but kept the rank of naval commander.

The navy pension is his only current source of declared income after serving between 1979 and 2001, amounting to £20,000 a year.

Latest Changes

Royal officials formally announced last week he would lose the titles of royal titles, as well as being made to leave his home in Windsor and move into private accommodation in Sandringham.

Royal staff had collaborated with civil servants in the Cabinet Office to prevent the decision having to be taken by parliament, finally deciding that the king should remove the title entirely using his powers of royal prerogative.

While the loss of his titles comes into effect right away, the former prince is not expected to leave Royal Lodge until following the holidays, meaning he will not be in attendance when the family convenes at Sandringham for the festive season.