King Charles ousts brother

AFP | Washington

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King Charles III is stripping his younger brother Andrew of his royal titles and ousting him from his longterm residence on the Windsor estate, the palace said on Thursday, the latest fallout to hit the scandal-plagued royal over the Jeffrey Epstein affair.

“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor,” Buckingham Palace said, adding Charles had begun the formal process to remove all his brother’s titles.

Andrew has also been told to move out of his long-time home on Windsor Castle’s sprawling grounds, and he will move “to alternative private accommodation” as soon as possible.

The announcement followed a torrent of outrage at renewed accusations of sexual assault made by one of Jeffrey Epstein’s main accusers against the 65-year-old, who has denied the charges.

“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him,” the palace said.

“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse,” it added.

It comes days after the posthumous publication of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, in which the victim of US sex offender Epstein reiterated in shocking detail allegations that she was trafficked to have sex with Andrew three times, including twice when she was only 17.

It is understood that Andrew did not object to the king’s decision, and that the UK government has been consulted.

Giuffre took her own life in April, aged 41, while Epstein died by suicide in 2019 in prison awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.

Giuffre’s family, which had pushed for Andrew’s title of prince to be removed, hailed the move Thursday, saying in a statement to the BBC that “today, she declares a victory”.

“Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage,” they said.

“Virginia Roberts Giuffre, our sister, a child when she was sexually assaulted by Andrew, never stopped fighting for accountability for what had happened to her and countless other survivors like her.”