The Queen Stuck by Prince Andrew. King Charles Is Pulling Away

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by Sarah Lyall

February 21, 2026

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The Queen's estrangement from her son, Prince Andrew (now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor), has intensified amid his legal troubles linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Following Andrew’s arrest on charges of "misconduct in public office," King Charles III issued a blunt statement expressing his support for the authorities, marking a stark departure from past royal practices. Unlike his mother, who often shielded Andrew from public disgrace, Charles has distanced himself and stripped Andrew of his royal titles and military honors, signaling a shift in how the monarchy is handling such crises. Andrew’s fall from grace began in 2022 when details of his alleged connection to Epstein’s trafficking network emerged. He was forced to step down from his royal duties and paid a multimillion-dollar settlement to Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault. Despite this, Andrew attended key family events, such as Prince Philip’s funeral and Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral, but was stripped of the right to wear his military uniform. Charles has further isolated Andrew by removing his royal titles, including "Prince" and "Duke of York," requiring him to be addressed simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The recent arrest adds another layer to Andrew’s legal saga, which has drawn significant public and media attention. While Andrew denies any wrongdoing, the situation has sparked renewed interest in the monarchy’s internal dynamics. King Charles’ decision to break with tradition by speaking directly about the matter highlights the growing pressure on the royal family to address scandals transparently. The crisis underscores the broader challenges faced by the British monarchy in maintaining its public image amidst personal and legal controversies involving its members.

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Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/21/2026