King Charles III formally stripped former Prince Andrew of his royal titles in October 2025, triggering a financial crisis that has left Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, reportedly angry over the loss of their expected inheritance from Royal Lodge Windsor.
The king initiated a formal process on October 30 to remove Andrew’s titles. Andrew had announced he would give up his titles on October 17.
Andrew is now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, 66, has also lost her Duchess of York title under royal protocol, though the couple’s daughters, Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35, retain their princess titles.
The title removals came after renewed scrutiny over Andrew and Ferguson’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew, 65, has vigorously denied sexual assault allegations made against him by the late Virginia Giuffre.
The financial implications for Andrew’s daughters have sparked particular concern. The sisters had expected that Royal Lodge Windsor, a 30-room property, would remain a family asset and provide long-term security. That expectation has now been completely eliminated as the property reverts entirely to the Crown Estate.
“There was an expectation that Royal Lodge would one day benefit Beatrice and Eugenie, even if only as a safety net. That has now gone completely,” an insider revealed.
The property, valued at £30 million, sits on 98 acres. Andrew signed a 75-year lease in 2003 with a £1 million down payment and £260,000 annual rent. The lease extends until 2078, but the changed circumstances mean neither Andrew nor his daughters can now claim the property as a future inheritance.
Despite the dramatic removal of titles, King Charles will continue to provide financial support to his youngest brother, though the king did not provide details on how much income he will receive. Andrew had lost his £1 million annual allowance in 2024 when Charles decided to sever the funding.
Andrew has been ordered to vacate Royal Lodge Windsor and will be transferred to a property on King Charles’ private Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. The move comes after the king had been pressuring Andrew to relocate to Frogmore Cottage, which would have kept him within the existing security cordon.
The property situation carries additional complications. Andrew is responsible for repairs and renovations to Royal Lodge, with estimates around £7 million for necessary work.
Sarah Ferguson faces her own challenges following the royal downfall. In September 2025, multiple charities dropped her as a patron, including Julia’s House and the Teenage Cancer Trust, after a 2011 email surfaced in which she called Epstein a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend.” Julia’s House stated it would be “inappropriate” for her to continue in the role. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie remain listed as patrons of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Ferguson had accepted £15,000 from Epstein to help pay off debts, and Epstein was invited to Princess Beatrice’s 18th birthday party in 2006.
The fallout extends beyond financial matters. Ferguson’s upcoming children’s book has been withdrawn from sale. Royal commentators note that Ferguson must now find her own living arrangements, with Andrew reportedly not negotiating on her behalf despite their continued residence at Royal Lodge.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are not working members of the royal family but are often included at major public-facing events.
The timing of Andrew’s title removal reflects mounting pressure from King Charles and Prince William to address the continued distraction caused by the Epstein association.
Buckingham Palace noted in its October 30, 2025, update that the censures were deemed necessary.
Royal sources indicated that the signal to Andrew regarding his daughters was clear. Beatrice and Eugenie would be protected, but only if Andrew stood down. Had Andrew continued to resist, both the king and Prince William would have been forced to look at broader changes affecting his daughters’ positions within the royal family.
The understanding presented to Andrew, Beatrice and Eugenie was that they would retain their titles of princess, keep their positions in the line of succession, and continue to be considered eligible for future public roles.
The loss of Royal Lodge as a future asset represents a significant shift in financial expectations for the York princesses. Royal commentators note that the understanding had been that the property arrangement would insulate the asset from short-term drama, but that belief has proved badly misplaced.
