Andrew could be stripped of remaining honorary military title, defence secretary says

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor could be stripped of his honorary rank of vice admiral, the Defence Secretary has said.

Andrew was made a vice admiral on his 55th birthday in 2015 and retained the rank even after giving up his other military positions in 2022.

John Healey told Sky's Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: "We've seen Andrew surrender the military positions that he's had and we're looking now at the one remaining position he has, which is the honorary vice admiral position and, we've got a process underway for that."

Asked what that process is, he said: "We're being guided by the King and we're now looking to remove."

Mr Healey was also asked if the government would legislate to remove Andrew from the line of succession.

He said that is a "matter for the King" but his personal view is "it's neither here nor there" as Andrew has lost all other of his royal titles.

Meanwhile Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative Party chairman, told Trevor Phillips: "Andrew's 8th in line to succession of the monarchy. Parliament's got many better things to do than to legislate for something that will never happen."

The King's brother was stripped of his prince and Duke of York titles by the monarch over his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday.

He lost his last remaining royal titles and privileges following the posthumous publication of a memoir by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's victims.

Now simply known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, he will move from Royal Lodge to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk - with his future accommodation to be privately funded by the monarch.

Andrew had a career spanning more than 20 years in the Royal Navy, and served in the Falklands War.

Ms Giuffre, who took her own life earlier this year, has claimed that - as a teenager - she had sex with Andrew on three occasions after being trafficked by billionaire paedophile Epstein and his ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

Andrew has always denied the allegations.

Ms Giuffre's family hailed the King's decision to remove Andrew's titles, saying: "An ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family, brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage."

Pressure is now building on Andrew to give evidence before a powerful US Congressional committee.

The House Oversight Committee is investigating the Epstein affair, and several of its members have invited Andrew to come and give evidence, presenting it as an opportunity to clear his name.

Royal biographer Andrew Morton said be believes there "are more revelations to come" about Epstein from the committee.

He told Sky News: "Given the fact that Andrew hasn't been fully comprehensive in his admissions and emails have emerged which go further than his Newsnight interview, I think that will be the fear inside the palace"

In a 2019 interview with Newsnight, Andrew claimed that he cut off contact with Epstein in 2010 following his release from jail for prostituting minors. However emails released since suggest they stayed in touch for longer.

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