Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has reportedly drawn a decisive line over Prince Andrew's latest controversy, telling confidants she "won't let him ruin us" as she and Prince William move to sever ties with the embattled Duke and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. The couple's decision follows new allegations detailed in the posthumous memoir of Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre that have once again engulfed Andrew and his former spouse in scandal.
According to Heat UK, the Prince and Princess of Wales have urged Andrew and Ferguson to vacate Royal Lodge, their 30-room residence in Windsor Great Park, in an effort to distance the monarchy's next generation from the fallout. "William and Kate are determined to distance themselves from Andrew and Sarah by encouraging them to vacate Royal Lodge," a royal insider told the outlet. "They believe Andrew living there still gives him an unwelcome prominence within the family."
For Kate, the renewed controversy cuts deeply. "Andrew and Sarah have left Kate deeply disappointed," the source said. "She feels betrayed and fears each new controversy risks undoing the steady progress she and William have fought to achieve. After everything they've built-their family life, their public trust-she can't bear to see the institution dragged backwards."
The firm stance comes as new details from Virginia Giuffre's memoir have reignited global outrage. In her writing, Giuffre claimed Ghislaine Maxwell told her in 2001 she would meet a "handsome prince," whom she later identified as Andrew. The memoir alleges that Epstein and Maxwell trafficked her to have sex with the prince on three occasions, including on Epstein's private island, describing one encounter as "an orgy" involving eight girls who "all appeared to be under the age of 18."
In the wake of the memoir's publication, Andrew announced on October 17 that he would voluntarily relinquish his remaining titles, including his Order of the Garter membership, stating, "I vigorously deny the accusations against me." Ferguson also renounced her duchess title after emails surfaced describing Epstein as her "steadfast, generous and supreme friend." She has since lost multiple charity patronages, including her 35-year role with the Teenage Cancer Trust.
While the late Queen Elizabeth II had previously shown public loyalty to her son despite stripping him of his HRH status in 2022, the current royal couple is taking a markedly different approach. "Kate's instinct has always been to protect her children, her husband, and the institution they've both worked so hard to rebuild," the insider said. "She's had enough of the chaos. They are united in their vision-it's about streamlining, modernising, and setting boundaries. They're not acting out of anger. They're doing it to safeguard the monarchy for their children."
The Waleses' decision also reflects growing unease over proximity. The couple's home, Forest Lodge, lies just a few miles from Andrew's Royal Lodge estate, and sources say they "do not want to run the risk of bumping into the former Yorks." With King Charles III battling cancer, William and Kate have assumed a more visible leadership role within the royal hierarchy.
"The Waleses are now, in the eyes of many, the face of the monarchy's future," a senior aide told Heat UK. "Their move to Windsor represents that vision-a more grounded, family-oriented royal life. But even there, they can't completely escape the noise."
As the Palace quietly prepares for a transition of power amid the King's health concerns, William and Kate appear intent on drawing a line between the monarchy's past and its future. "They've weathered so much, but this feels different," the insider said. "Either the monarchy stays mired in old scandals, or it moves forward. William and Kate are choosing forward."
