Prince William is preparing to take a harder line against his uncle, Prince Andrew, than either his father King Charles III or the late Queen Elizabeth, according to palace insiders. Sources told RadarOnline.com that the heir to the throne has privately said "the public deserves to know their monarchy is free from scandal," signaling his intention to use constitutional powers to strip Andrew of remaining titles once he becomes king.
The 65-year-old Duke of York has been sidelined from official royal duties since 2019, when his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein drew widespread outrage. His Newsnight interview that year, in which he defended his ties to Epstein, deepened public hostility. A YouGov poll recently showed his popularity at just 9% in the United Kingdom, making him one of the least liked royals.
Andrew retains the Dukedom of York, membership in the Order of the Garter, and the honorific "Prince." RadarOnline.com reported that William, 44, has explored mechanisms to remove them, including revoking the HRH style by Letters Patent and pursuing parliamentary action to strip peerages. One former courtier told the outlet: "William is far more hard-nosed than Charles when it comes to protecting the monarchy's reputation. He's fully aware of the harm Andrew has caused."
The debate extends to Andrew's residence at Royal Lodge, Windsor, where he lives with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson under a Crown Estate lease. A source cited by RadarOnline.com said William is determined to act if his father does not: "If Charles doesn't act before he dies, the first thing William will do as King is get them out of there."
The Telegraph reported similar sentiments, quoting a source who said, "something still needs to be done," regarding Andrew's status. The outlet noted that William could exclude Andrew from his coronation, strip him of his Order of the Garter, or push for legislation to revoke his "Prince" title.
Royal biographer Christopher Wilson told The Telegraph that William has "hard-nosed ideas about how the Royal family needs to appear in the frenzied social media world we now inhabit, and I think will be ruthless." Biographer Andrew Lownie has also alleged that Andrew made "nasty" remarks about Catherine, Princess of Wales, fueling William's resolve.
Fox News contributor Hilary Fordwich said earlier this year that William intends to ensure Andrew is both "banished" and "vanished" upon his accession. That stance contrasts with Charles's cautious approach of keeping family disputes private, a policy inherited from the Queen.
Despite being excluded from royal duties, Andrew continues to attend private family occasions, including Easter services and Christmas gatherings. Yet growing public campaigns in York to sever ties with his dukedom underscore the pressure facing the monarchy. A constitutional expert cited by RadarOnline.com noted: "The mechanism to strip him of all titles is there. It just takes the will - and under William, there's every chance that will will materialize."
