King Charles III took away Prince Andrew’s royal titles on October 30. Many people cheered this move against a royal caught in scandals. But this action revealed a big puzzle in Britain’s royal rules. Even without his “prince” title, Duke of York honors, or £250,000 yearly royal pay, Andrew stays eighth in line to the throne.
Old laws meant to stop kings from abusing power now protect even a disgraced royal from being kicked out.
What Happened on October 30
Buckingham Palace released a statement that day. It said King Charles started the process to remove Andrew’s style, titles, and honors. Andrew lost his Prince title, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh, and “His Royal Highness” style. On December 1, Charles went further. He took away Andrew’s spot in the Order of the Garter and his Knight Grand Cross title. One job stayed: Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy. The government controls that, not the king.
Royal power works in pieces. The king can act alone on titles and honors. But succession rules, the order to the throne, follow a different set of laws.
Money Hits and Why Succession Stays Safe
Andrew’s finances got much worse. His net worth is £3.7 million, but that’s not enough for long. Now he is reliant on his Navy pension and that’s a big drop from £250,000 as a working royal. He also had to leave Royal Lodge, a 30-room home he fixed up for an estimated £7.5 million. He lost pay, titles, a house, and public roles. Still, his spot in line to the throne did not change.
British law splits royal perks from family blood rights. A king can take away honors and money from a relative. But he cannot remove them from succession alone. Parliament must act, and all 15 Commonwealth countries must agree.
Parliament’s Role in Protecting the Line
To boot Andrew from succession, lawmakers need a new law. Parliament has said it won’t do this. There is a past example. Prince Michael of Kent lost his succession spot in 1978 but got it back in 2013. No one wants to act now.
These rules come from old laws to stop kings from being tyrants. The Act of Settlement from 1700 and later laws block easy changes to the throne order. They protect heirs from a king’s bad decisions and stop family fights over power. Experts say the system that stops a king from killing rivals now stops him from dropping a scandal-hit brother.
Challenges Across Commonwealth Countries
Parliament alone can’t fix this. All 15 Commonwealth realms must change their laws too. The Perth Agreement of 2011 requires this teamwork. Getting 16 places to agree is hard work. That’s why no one pushes for it. Andrew’s throne spot affects the whole group, not just Britain. No one country can act alone.
Wider Impacts and King’s Ongoing Costs
The changes hurt others too. Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, lost her Duchess of York title. She left Royal Lodge and dropped the title from social media. In 2025, seven charities cut ties with her over old issues.
King Charles pays for Andrew’s move and home staff. Andrew’s pension won’t cover the massive yearly staff costs. Charles, age 77 and battling cancer, keeps funding his brother while handling king duties. Andrew may move to Marsh Farm or Wood Farm at Sandringham, 100 miles from London. It’s a big step down from fancy Windsor life.
The Tension That Remains
Six weeks after October 30, Andrew was still eighth in line. Parliament planned no changes. The 15 realms could block any move. Charles used every power he had on titles. But bloodline rights stayed safe.
This shows the limits of a king’s power in modern Britain. You can take dignity, money, and homes. But family throne rights last. The anti-tyranny rules now shield the disgraced. This clash in royal tradition can’t be fixed by one king’s order.
Sources:
“The deal that means Andrew can still afford to live in Royal Lodge,” BBC News, October 21, 2025
“Ex-Prince Andrew remains in line of succession despite…”, Fox News, December 9, 2025
“Inside Prince Andrew’s net worth as he gives up use of…”, Hello! Magazine, October 16, 2025
“This is how much the British Royal family earns,” Economic Times, August 24, 2024
“Virginia Giuffre, Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein,” BBC News, April 25, 2025
“Prince Andrew: Where does he get his money from?”, BBC News, February 15, 2022