Royal Family recap: Prince Andrew gives up Duke of York title ahead of Giuffre book

Good morning, royal readers and happy Friday. The weekend is almost here and we'll be keeping you up to date on what's happening with today's royal agenda...

Today, Prince William will be paying a visit to the London Ambulance Service. Elsewhere, the Princess Royal will visit Luton Airport Community Projects and Easyjet Limited on the occasion of its 30th Anniversary. 

Before we dive into Friday's royal engagements, we're bringing you an update regarding the Prince and Princess of Wales' house move.

Prince William and Princess Kate, along with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, are moving from Adelaide Cottage to nearby Forest Lodge on the grounds of Windsor Great Park. The move was said to be taking place at the end of the year, though the royals are now bringing their 'fresh start' further forward in the calendar. Read our report from our Royal Correspondent Danielle Stacey for all the details.

The move from Adelaide Cottage to Forest Lodge was first reported in September and it seems it's been all systems go to get prepared for the big change.

Builders have reportedly been working around the clock to bring their moving date forward and the Waleses hope to be settled in their new Windsor abode by Bonfire Night on 5 November. 

According to the newspaper, a new 150-acre, Home Office-agreed security cordon is in place around the eight-bedroom mansion, and staff are now transferring the family's belongings into the newly renovated property. Sources have told the Daily Mail that Kate has been involved with the renovations.

The Prince of Wales has been photographed during his visit to the London Ambulance Service. The future King was seen speaking with Andy Trotter, the chair of the NHS Trust, and paramedic Pauline Cranmer upon arrival.

During his visit, Prince William will meet staff who work in the wellbeing team at the headquarters in Waterloo and offer support and services to paramedics carrying out lifesaving work daily.

His Royal Highness was pictured engaging in a jovial chat with paramedics and other front-line workers. The future King was there to talk about their experiences and the importance of providing mental health support to those working in emergency services.

During his engagement in Waterloo, the Prince also visited the Emergency Operations Control room, where the team works 24/7 to manage 999 calls into the ambulance service in London.

The future King spoke to staff, including Call Handlers, Dispatchers and members of the Clinical Hub team, about their different roles and how they help people daily over the phone and arrange help on scene.

During his visit, the father of three also viewed the vehicles used by the LAS team, including the world's first, purpose-built all-electric ambulance, and electric fast response cars. His Royal Highness also spoke with specialist paramedics and took part in a training demonstration.

Meghan Markle was pictured looking seriously glam while attending an event in Los Angeles on Thursday evening. The Duchess of Sussex was the guest of honour and joined fellow female entrepreneurs and business leaders, including industry giant Emma Grede, at the event called A Seat At The Table. 

Meghan posed for a photo alongside Emma, who is the business brains behind brands including Skims, Good American and Off Season. Meghan wore a beige linen suit by Giuliva Heritage, paired with black Balenciaga court pumps and a simple gold necklace by Aurate New York.

The Duchess of Sussex even provided the wine for the event from her own brand, As Ever. 

Scroll through the below Instagram Carousel to see Meghan's outfit and the guests tucking into their meal paired with As Ever wine.

The King and Queen will travel to Vatican City next week. Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the monarchs will carry out their state visit from 22 to 23 October and will join Pope Leo XIV to celebrate the 2025 jubilee year for the Catholic Church.

It will be Charles and Camilla's first meeting with Pope Leo XIV since his election in May 2025, following the death of Pope Francis, marking a significant moment in relations between the Catholic Church and the Church of England, of which the King is Supreme Governor. 

King Charles is set to make history during the Vatican City visit as he will pray together with the Pope in a unique ecumenical service at the Sistine Chapel – the first such occasion in many centuries.

It seems the King and Queen have a packed schedule when they're there. Elsewhere during their significant state visit, Charles will not only meet Pope Leo XIV in the Apostolic Palace, but also Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's Secretary of State.

Camilla, meanwhile, will view the Pauline Chapel, which houses Michelangelo's last two paintings of St Peter and St Paul. Later, the pair, along with the Pope, will attend a special ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel. His Holiness and His Majesty will then join a meeting on sustainability in the Sala Regia, while Her Majesty will meet members of the choir.

Read more about their schedule and the historical significance behind their trip.

Oh to be a royal! The Duchess of Gloucester will be escaping the drab British weather as she starts a four-day visit to Bermuda. The island nation is a favourite destination for the 79-year-old, who has visited on official business on three other occasions. Get all the details about her appearance here...

As we've already reported, Prince William is out today at the London Ambulance Service (LAS) in Waterloo. During his time there, the heir to the throne met with first responders who had suffered abuse during their shifts. See how the royal responded here, as well as some of the best photos from the trip.

Last month, it was confirmed that Crown Princess Mette-Marit would be stepping away from her royal duties as she entered "pulmonary rehabilitation" amid her ongoing battle with pulmonary fibrosis. At the time, it was said there would be some exceptions and on Friday, the Norwegian royal was seen attending a mass which served as an apology to the country's LGBTQ+ community from the Norwegian Church.

A caption explained: "The Crown Prince and Crown Princess attended an evening mass in Oslo Cathedral in connection with the Church of Norway's apology to queers. An important part of the evening mass was when representatives of a number of different organizations came to the light globe. Candles were lit for queers near and far, for history and the road ahead."

The royals are frequently fashion inspirations for us here at the HELLO! offices, and it was Holland's Queen Maxima who really turned heads with her latest outfit. See the stunning design here...

Last week, Prince William was moved to tears when he spoke to Rhian Mannings, who lost her husband to suicide. Although Rhian didn't reveal the full contents of the letter, she shared William's personal signature.

"I came home from work today to find the most beautiful letter waiting for me - a letter of thanks from Prince William," she wrote in the caption. "He thanked me for welcoming him into our home and for speaking so openly about Paul and George. He even mentioned Mum and the children, which really touched my heart. It’s a letter I'll truly treasure forever."

She continued: "But honestly, it's me who wants to say thank you, to him, for taking the time to listen, to talk, and to care. For seeing the people behind the stories, and for showing such kindness and compassion to those who are struggling."

Meghan Markle always knows how to deliver a stylish look and we were obsessed with one of her latest offerings. Relive the gorgeous outfit here...

It's not just us who pays rent, as Prince William and Princess Kate will also be doing the same when they move into Forest Lodge later this year. But how much will they need to be paying? Find out here...

In a major move, Prince Andrew has given up his royal titles, including Duke of York. See our full story from our royal editor Emily Nash, here...

Prince Andrew has confirmed he will give up his Duke of York title ahead of the release of Virginia Giuffre's forthcoming memoir. The decision is seen as an attempt to draw a line under ongoing controversy, potentially easing pressure on his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Both have worked to maintain their own identities through family life, charity work and careers outside the royal spotlight. Neither sister has commented publicly on their father's decision. Read more here. 

Prince Andrew will remain a Prince - a title he's held since birth - but will no longer use his Duke of York title publicly. While the Dukedom itself can only be removed by an Act of Parliament, the King's brother will not make use of it going forward. He is also giving up his knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and stepping down from his role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter.

It's understood Prince Andrew won't be joining the royal family for their traditional Christmas celebrations this year. The change won't affect his daughters. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are still expected to spend the festive season with the rest of the royals.

Sarah Ferguson will no longer be known as the Duchess of York. The mum-of-two, who retained the title following her divorce from Prince Andrew, will now revert to using her maiden name. With Andrew stepping back from using his Duke of York title, she will also cease using hers.

Prince Andrew has released a full statement following his decision to step back from using his royal title and honours:

"In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.

"With His Majesty's agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew is still expected to stay at Royal Lodge, the 30-room Windsor mansion he shares with his former wife. He holds a private long-term lease on the property with the Crown Estate, which isn’t affected by his decision to give up his titles.

Prince Andrew stepped back from public duties in 2019 following his controversial Newsnight interview, in which he said he "did not regret" his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who has claimed she had sex with Prince Andrew, is being serialised in a British newspaper.

It's been quite the Friday for the British royals, with Prince Andrew losing his Duke of York title, giving up his knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO), and stepping down from his role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter.

Our Royal Editor Emily Nash has recorded her initial thoughts on this bombshell news for you on the Royal Club substack; have a listen here, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

If you're just catching up with this story, here's a brief recap.

• Prince Andrew has agreed to give up all of his titles, including the Duke of York. He will remain a prince, as the son of Elizabeth II.
• His ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, will also give up her title and revert to her maiden name, Sarah Ferguson.
• "In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family," Andrew said in a statement.
• The King is understood to be glad about the outcome

Of course, one of the big stories to follow is how this will impact his immediate family, and in particular, his two daughters, Princesses Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35.

Read our report here for more details.

Prince Andrew stepped away from his royal duties in 2019, but he has remained living at Royal Lodge, in Windsor, for the past several years, despite not making a public income.

This has raised questions about the former Duke of York's net worth, and this report dives into those questions.