NEED TO KNOW
- The former Prince Andrew was seen horseback riding on the Windsor Castle grounds in his first public appearance since being stripped of his royal titles
- The sighting comes as plaques featuring Andrew’s name at public buildings in the Falkland Islands have been removed
- Andrew helped defend the overseas British territory against military invasion in the 1980s as a helicopter co-pilot
The former Prince Andrew has been seen in public for the first time since his royal titles were officially stripped by his elder brother, King Charles.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/prince-andrew-111725-3d00344177a646979738e0e0ed316195.jpg)
On Monday, Nov. 17, The Daily Mail published a photo of the ex-Duke of York, now known only as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, riding a horse on the grounds of Windsor Castle. The image, taken that morning, showed him riding with a female companion also on horseback and looking toward the camera.
The sighting suggests that Andrew, 65, has yet to vacate Royal Lodge, the 30-bedroom mansion in Windsor Great Park, where he has lived for two decades. Along with losing his royal titles, Andrew will also leave the home and relocate to the royal family’s private Sandringham estate. Formal notice was served on Oct. 30 for him to surrender the lease, and the move is expected to take place as soon as practicable.
In another blow, plaques featuring Andrew’s name at public buildings in the Falkland Islands have been removed, according to The Daily Mirror. Andrew helped defend the overseas British territory against military invasion in the 1980s as a helicopter co-pilot.
Along with being stripped of his royal titles and residence, Defense Secretary John Healey previously confirmed that Andrew lost his honorary rank as vice admiral in the Royal Navy. However, King Charles allowed his brother to keep his medals earned in service.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(499x0:501x2):format(webp)/prince-andrew-111725-1-d0c41e39928449838775f82e5ec6a295.jpg)
Andrew stepped back from his public royal role in 2019 following his BBC interview in which he discussed his relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail the same year. Queen Elizabeth stripped her son of his military titles and patronages in January 2022, after a judge rejected his attempt to have Virginia Giuffre’s sexual assault lawsuit against him dismissed, which he settled with Giuffre out of court for an undisclosed sum.
Although Andrew retained his titles and continued to join the royals at family events like holiday church outings and funerals in the years since, there was renewed scrutiny in recent weeks. Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, wrote in a memoir published posthumously that Andrew “believed having sex with me was his birthright,” describing three occasions Epstein allegedly arranged for her to meet him beginning at age 17.
In addition, recently leaked emails showed that Andrew was in touch with Epstein after he had claimed to break off contact with the disgraced financier.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/prince-andrew-king-charles-katharine-duchess-of-kent-funeral-103125-1-739452278a344694b0abfc13afea8f5b.jpg)
Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Andrew announced on Oct. 17 that he would give up the use of his royal titles and other honors. However, Buckingham Palace shared a new statement on Oct. 30 that the King had begun the formal process to strip his brother of all titles and honors, including prince and the “His Royal Highness” styling. The move was made official on Nov. 3 with a Letters Patent.