Defence chiefs have been told to ‘get on with it’ and strip Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s last title amid a long delay – despite King Charles’ request to remove it four weeks ago.
The former Prince Andrew is still a vice-admiral in the Royal Navy, the final title he retains after his brother, King Charles, formally stripped him of his prince title and announced he would be removed from the Royal Lodge on November 6.
Andrew’s reputation was in ruins after the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and Virginia Giuffre’s recent posthumous autobiography, as well as a fresh batch of emails between Epstein and Andrew which revealed he continued contacting the disgraced New York financier after publicly cutting ties with him.
Senior military figures have described the delay in getting rid of Andrew’s last title as ‘extraordinary’, saying the government needs to ‘get on with it’.
It is the government’s job – not the King’s – to remove Andrew’s vice-admiral title.
Andrew, 65, had been awarded the honorary rank of vice-admiral for his 55th birthday in February 2015, after serving in the Royal Navy for 22 years.
He had been due to receive a promotion to admiral on his 60th birthday, but following the disastrous BBC Newsnight interview in 2019 and his subsequent withdrawal from public duties, the promotion was deferred.
On November 6, amid mounting public pressure, the King formally stripped his brother of his royal titles and honours, and a statement released by Buckingham Palace on October 30 said: ‘Their Majesties 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.’
Just three days later Defence Secretary John Healey said the government would ‘work to remove’ Andrew’s last remaining title of vice-admiral.
Mr Healey said in a BBC interview: ‘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.
But last night the Ministry of Defence revealed the process was still not complete and told the Times that the matter was ‘ongoing’ but declined to comment on what stage the process was at, or provide a reason for the month-long delay.
A spokesperson for the MoD spokesman told the Times: ‘Defence continues to act in line with His Majesty’s intent regarding the process to remove the style, titles and honours of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.’
Admiral Lord West, the former first sea lord and chief of the naval staff, said: ‘It seems extraordinary that it is taking so long and I cannot see why it is that difficult to remove it. He has paid a penalty for his stupid behaviour and that is right.
‘What I would not approve of is if he kept the title, that would not be appropriate with his behaviour.
‘We recently swiftly removed the first sea lord from his position and he had the rank of admiral, so it cannot be that difficult. They should just get on with it.’
Sir Ben Key became the first head of the Royal Navy to be sacked earlier this year after it emerged the married father of three had an affair with a junior female colleague.
Andrew was seen on November 17 riding around the grounds of Windsor Castle with a female companion, despite being kicked out of Royal Lodge by the King and Prince William.
Andrew is meant to be being banished to Sandringham but multiple sources have said it will take him months to move out of his Windsor home, which he shares with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
Fergie is reportedly considering fleeing the UK to live in their daughter’s £3.6million Portuguese villa this winter.
Andrew has not been seen in public since October 3, but has received visits from family including his eldest daughter Beatrice, who looked particularly forlorn as she left.
King Charles formally stripped his brother Andrew of his prince title on November 6.
The monarch also removed his HRH by issuing a rare Letters Patent, making his younger brother officially a commoner.
