Prince Andrew stripped of Vice-Admiral rank amid Epstein fallout

File photo dated 16/09/25 of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Jordan Pettitt

Donald Trump expressed sympathy for the British royal family following the fallout from Prince Andrew's association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The US President told reporters on board Air Force One late Sunday: «It's a terrible thing that's happened to the (royal) family.»

Trump added: «That's been a tragic situation. It's too bad. I feel badly for the family.» His comments came as Andrew faces the removal of his final honorary military title.

Title removal confirmed

Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed the government is working to strip Prince Andrew of his Vice-Admiral rank. The honorary title was awarded to Andrew on his 55th birthday in 2015.

Healey told BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that the Ministry of Defence would be «guided by the decisions and judgments the King has made.» He added: «We are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral that he has.»

King Charles III has made several decisions to distance Andrew from the royal family. On Thursday, the King stripped his brother of his peerages and the title of prince.

Military background

Andrew began officer training at Britannia Royal Naval College in 1979. He served as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War in 1982 and ended his active naval career as a Commander in 2001.

Royal author Valentine Low told Laura Kuenssberg: «Royals, and particularly Andrew, are very proud and determined to hang onto military titles.» Andrew handed back most of his honorary military positions in 2022 following the Epstein scandal.

Ministry of Defence sources expect the process of removing Andrew's rank to be completed «in short order.» It remains unclear whether Andrew will revert to his active service rank of Commander or lose his naval rank entirely.

Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).