Andrew Mountbatten Windsor to lose vice-admiral rank as King Charles acts on Epstein fallout

King Charles is set to strip Andrew Mountbatten Windsor of his last remaining naval title, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed, as the monarch moves to close the chapter on the scandal surrounding his brother’s links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Mountbatten Windsor, formerly the Duke of York, will lose his honorary rank of vice-admiral — a title he was granted in 2015 and has retained despite giving up other military positions in 2022.

‘Guided by the king’s decisions’

Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Healey said ministers were working with the king to remove Mountbatten Windsor’s final military honour, following last week’s decision to strip him of his royal title as prince and remove him from Royal Lodge.

“In general, the government has been guided by the decisions and judgments the king has made. In defence, it’s exactly the same,” Healey said.

“We’ve seen Andrew surrender the honorary positions he’s had throughout the military, and guided again by the king, we are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral that he has.”

When asked whether Mountbatten Windsor might also lose his military medals, Healey said those were “medals for his service”, adding: “I don’t have an update for you on that, but just as with his vice-admiral rank and title, we would be guided by the decisions the king makes.”

Renewed scrutiny over Epstein ties

Mountbatten Windsor has faced renewed attention over his relationship with Epstein following the publication of posthumous memoirs by Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was forced to have sex with him on three occasions, including when she was 17. He has denied all allegations.

Over the weekend, newly released emails revealed that in 2010 — after Epstein’s release from jail for soliciting prostitution — Mountbatten Windsor wrote to the financier:

“I have no immediate plans to drop by New York but I think I should at some stage soon. I’ll look and see if I can make a couple of days before the summer. It would be good to catch up in person.”

In the same correspondence, Epstein suggested he meet Jes Staley, a former JP Morgan executive later banned from UK banking for misleading regulators about his ties to Epstein. Mountbatten Windsor replied that he would “make sure I meet [Staley] soon on another trip”.

The pair were photographed together in New York’s Central Park later that year — a meeting the former duke has since described as a “wrong decision”.

Loss of royal titles and income

Mountbatten Windsor served in the Royal Navy for more than two decades, including as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War. Since stepping back from royal duties and relinquishing most military roles in 2022, he has retained the vice-admiral rank and draws a naval pension estimated at £20,000 a year — his only declared income.

Last week, Buckingham Palace confirmed that he would lose the titles of prince and Duke of York, and would be required to leave his Royal Lodge residence for private accommodation on the Sandringham estate.

Palace officials reportedly worked with the Cabinet Office to ensure the decision was handled through royal prerogative, avoiding parliamentary involvement.

According to The Guardian, the king has approved a six-figure one-off payment for his brother and may personally fund an annual stipend to prevent “overspending in his new life as a commoner”. Discussions over the financial package are said to be ongoing.

Although the loss of his titles takes immediate effect, Mountbatten Windsor is not expected to vacate Royal Lodge until after Christmas — meaning he will not attend the royal family’s traditional gathering at Sandringham.