Aboard Air Force One late Sunday night, former U.S. President Donald Trump finally addressed one of Britain’s most painful royal crises — the downfall of Prince Andrew, now formally stripped of his titles amid the continuing scandal over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“It’s a terrible thing that’s happened to the royal family,” Trump told reporters traveling with him. “It’s been a tragic situation. I feel badly for them.”
His comments came just hours after Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles III had made a decisive move: Prince Andrew will no longer be known as a prince. In a statement described as “historic” and “unprecedented,” the palace announced that the disgraced royal will now be referred to simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The change, officials said, was part of a broader effort to distance the monarchy from the ongoing Epstein fallout — and to protect the institution’s integrity.
The decision followed months of speculation and internal tension within the royal household. According to palace insiders, the King concluded that further leniency was no longer possible after Andrew allegedly misled officials about when he last had contact with Epstein. In the same announcement, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that Andrew would also lose his final honorary military title, the rank of Vice-Admiral — the last symbolic link to his decades of naval service.
For much of his life, Andrew’s identity had been tied to the Royal Navy. He began training at Dartmouth in 1979, flew helicopters during the Falklands War, and ended his active service in 2001 as a Commander. His 2015 promotion to Vice-Admiral was meant to honor his service and loyalty. Now that honor has been rescinded. His Duke of York title was already removed from the official Roll of Peerages, erasing nearly every trace of his former royal status.
The former prince continues to deny all allegations of wrongdoing, including claims made by Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault when she was 17 — allegations linked to Epstein’s trafficking network. Despite the denials, public trust has crumbled. To many, the royal family’s actions mark the end of an era for a man once considered the Queen’s favorite son.
Trump’s sympathetic remarks carried their own complicated echoes. The former president was also socially linked to Epstein years ago, a connection that resurfaced in a 2024 protest by British activists. The group Led By Donkeys projected a nine-minute film onto Windsor Castle, highlighting Trump’s past association with the disgraced financier, including an alleged letter he sent for Epstein’s 50th birthday. The act was described as a “peaceful protest,” and four men involved were later released without charge.
Meanwhile, pressure on Andrew continues to grow beyond Britain. In Washington, members of the U.S. House Oversight Committee are calling for him to testify under oath about what he knew of Epstein’s network. If he agrees, it would mark an unprecedented moment in royal history — a former prince facing questions before Congress.
As the monarchy struggles to contain the damage, Trump’s tone of compassion stood out amid the storm. “It’s too bad,” he repeated. “I feel badly for the family.” Yet inside Buckingham Palace, there is little room for sympathy. For King Charles, the decision was not just about reputation, but responsibility — a painful line drawn between family loyalty and public duty.
For now, the man once known as His Royal Highness lives quietly at Royal Lodge, his royal future erased, his name reduced to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. What began as whispers of scandal has become a defining reckoning — one that could shape the future of the British monarchy for years to come.
