Former prince Andrew is set to lose his last remaining military title, as part of King Charles’ decision to remove him from public duties.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed to the BBC that steps are being taken to strip Andrew of his role as vice admiral in the Royal Navy, saying Charles had “indicated that’s what he wishes”.
The move comes after the King removed Andrew’s prince title and ordered him to leave his mansion last week, amid continuing scrutiny over his connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Healey said the Ministry of Defence is “working to remove” the rank, which Andrew was granted on his 55th birthday in 2015, adding: “This is a move that’s right, it’s a move the King has indicated we should take and we’re working on that at the moment.”
Andrew retained the vice admiral rank in 2022 when he stepped back from his other military roles.
Healey did not confirm whether Andrew would keep his medals, including one awarded for his service in the Falklands War, saying the Defence Department would be “guided by the decisions the King makes”.
Andrew first joined the Royal Navy in 1979 as an officer trainee at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. He went on to serve as a helicopter pilot and took part in the Falklands conflict in 1982.
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