Buckingham Palace has confirmed the King has taken action to formally remove Prince Andrew's titles. A statement issued on Thursday read: "His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor."
The palace has also confirmed that the former Duke of York will vacate his Windsor home, Royal Lodge, where he has resided for the past two decades. It continued: "His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation. These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him."
HELLO! understands that Prince Andrew will move to a property on the private Sandringham estate, with the relocation taking place as soon as practicable. Any future accommodation will be privately funded by the King.
The statement concluded with: "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."
Andrew attempted to draw a line under years of controversy after allegations that he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre, by giving up his dukedom and other honours ahead of the publication of her posthumous memoirs earlier this month. Action was taken because there have been serious lapses in Andrew's judgement, it is understood, although he continues to deny the accusations against him.
The developments required legal and constitutional expertise and support from the wider family to bring about. The King initiated the process and Andrew did not object, it is understood. The Government was consulted and made it clear it supports the decision as constitutionally proper. The Prince of Wales is also understood to be supportive of the King's decision, as is the wider royal family.
HELLO!'s Royal Editor Emily Nash says: "This is the move that many had called for and the King had to act decisively in response, however difficult it may have been for him as a brother. It's a marked change from Andrew's statement announcing he would no longer use his Duke of York title, in which he suggested it was his decision to do so.
"The Palace had to get it right this time to restore public confidence and they have done so. The King has made clear that he is calling the shots. He's condemned his brother's 'serious lapses of judgement' and crucially, said publicly that his and the Queen's sympathies have been and remain with the victims and survivors of abuse.
"It may have taken longer than the public would have liked – there have been difficult legal and constitutional issues to consider – but the royal family will be hoping this draws a line under the latest slew of damaging headlines so they can focus on their work and the future."
Which titles will be formally removed?
While Andrew relinquished use of his titles and honours in a statement shared by the palace earlier this month, the official process will apply to his titles of Prince, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh and the style 'His Royal Highness'. The honours affected are Andrew's Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order.
The decision taken by the King will not affect Andrew's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who will retain their titles and styles of HRH in line with King George V's Letters Patent of 1917.
Controversy over Royal Lodge rent
It comes a week after talks were said to have began between the former Duke of York and palace officials as pressure mounted for Andrew to up the residence voluntarily after the furore over the "peppercorn" rent for the 30-room mansion, where he has lived for more than 20 years.
A copy of the leasehold agreement was seen by The Times last week, which showed Andrew signed a 75-year lease on the property in 2003. It also revealed he paid £1 million for the lease and that since then he has paid "one peppercorn" of rent "if demanded" per year.
He was also required to pay a further £7.5 million for refurbishments completed in 2005, according to a report by the National Audit Office. The agreement also contains a clause which states the Crown Estate would have to pay Andrew around £558,000 if he gave up the lease, but it's now understood that it is possible remedial works may affect any compensation due.
Where will Sarah Ferguson live?
Sarah Ferguson, who also gave up her courtesy title, Duchess of York, earlier this month, has resided with her ex-husband, Andrew, for a number of years. The former couple, who married in 1986 and divorced ten years later, have remained on amicable terms since their separation. HELLO! understands Sarah will make her own arrangements.
Why will Andrew use the surname Mountbatten Windsor?
Members of the royal family often do not use a surname, they're simply known by their title, name and His or Her Royal Highness. But the royal family's website states: "At a meeting of the Privy Council on 17 July 1917, George V declared that 'all descendants in the male line of Queen Victoria, who are subjects of these realms, other than female descendants who marry or who have married, shall bear the name of Windsor'."
In order to differentiate their direct ancestors, it was declared in the Privy Council in 1952 that Queen Elizabeth II's descendants, other than those with the style of Royal Highness and the title of Prince/Princess, or female descendants who marry, would carry the name of Mountbatten-Windsor. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh's daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, became the first royal to use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor following her birth in 2003.