No title, but money. Prince Andrew will receive a large sum and annual pension from private funds
The former Duke of York is set to receive a large sum of money and an annual pension designed to help him not spend too much in his life “ordinary citizen”according to information received by The Guardian.
King Charles will pay Prince Andrew a hefty sum PHOTO Archive
Part of that package could be a six-figure upfront payment for his move from the Royal Lodge in Windsor to a private home in Sandringham, Norfolk.
In addition, he was to receive an annual pension paid out of King Charles's private funds, much larger than the naval pension of £20,000 a year which he had hitherto received. Sources close to the situation say that talks about this package are still ongoing.
Now without his princely titles and without the style of “HRH”, Mountbatten-Windsor was removed from the official register of the aristocracy hours after Buckingham Palace announced that the formal process had begun.
A palace statement released on Thursday said the king had begun the process to strip Andrew of his titles and honors and that “the formal notice has already been sent for the handover of the rental contract” from the Royal Lodge.
The Palace also pointed out that “their thoughts and compassion remain with victims and survivors of all forms of abuse.”
The government was consulted before the announcement and said the king's decision was constitutionally correct. The Cabinet Office worked with the King's advisers to find a quick solution and consulted several constitutional experts. In the end, the king decided to withdraw his titles.
A royal decree and official documents that will formally withdraw his right to use the title of prince and the style of HRH will be finalized in the coming days.
A senior minister suggested on Friday that Andrew should go to the US if he is asked to answer questions about Jeffrey Epstein. Trade Secretary Sir Chris Bryant told the BBC: “Like any citizen, if there were requests from another country, I would expect any reasonable person to comply. I would say the same for Andrew.”
The British police, Scotland Yard, are considering whether to open new inquiries into the former prince's actions. He is currently involved in two investigations.
Even though the loss of the titles is immediate, the former prince is not expected to leave the Royal Lodge until after Christmas, meaning he will not be present at the royal family's gathering at Sandringham for the holidays.
Despite the king's decision, Mountbatten-Windsor remains eighth in line to the throne. To change this would require a law, but there are no plans to do so.
“Clearly it would take a real catastrophe for him to become king, given how many are before him”says Joe Little, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine. “So it would have been simpler to have him removed from the line of succession.”
The former prince also remains a councilor of state, although he is not active, as parliament has been told that only active royals can stand in for the king in his absence.
