Camilla Jessen
Royal records rewritten as Andrew’s name deleted.
A new entry in the U.K.’s official public record has confirmed the complete removal of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s last remaining royal distinctions.
This was authorized directly by King Charles.
Final removal
On December 1, The Gazette published two notices issued by the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood at St. James’s Palace.
Each confirmed that King Charles had cancelled Andrew’s appointments to two of Britain’s most prestigious honors: Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.
The entries specified that his name “shall be erased from the Register” of both orders, backdated to October 30, the day Buckingham Palace announced the King had begun formal steps to remove Andrew’s style, titles and honors.
The Gazette now lists him solely as “Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor.”
Erasing the past
These honors were originally awarded by Queen Elizabeth II, who appointed Andrew a Knight of the Garter in 2006 and to the Royal Victorian Order in 2011.
Their cancellation removes the final ceremonial remnants of his former royal status, years after he stepped back from public duties.
The Garter, dating to the 14th century, is the highest order of chivalry in Britain. The Royal Victorian Order recognizes personal service to the monarch.
Years of scandal
The latest step follows Andrew’s decision on October 17 to relinquish the use of all remaining titles and honors.
His announcement came during renewed examination of his relationship with Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in U.S. custody in 2019.
Andrew stepped down from royal duties in 2019 after a widely criticized BBC interview about their association.
In 2022, Queen Elizabeth stripped him of his military titles and patronages, shortly before a U.S. judge rejected his effort to dismiss Virginia Giuffre’s civil sexual assault lawsuit. He later settled the case without admitting wrongdoing.
Giuffre died by suicide earlier this year at age 41.
Sources: The Gazette; BBC; Crown Office, People
