New reporting from multiple British media outlets says Prince William, the Prince of Wales, urged senior royals to distance the family from his uncle, Prince Andrew, years before King Charles III formally stripped Andrew of his royal titles and honours in 2025. The claims appear in a forthcoming biography titled William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era, written by royal correspondent Russell Myers.

According to excerpts published in The Mirror and other outlets, William became deeply concerned about Andrew’s reputation and its impact on the institution after the disgraced royal’s widely-criticised 2019 BBC interview about his links to Jeffrey Epstein. William believed the fallout from that interview and subsequent revelations posed a long-term threat to the monarchy’s credibility.

A palace source quoted in the reporting said William felt Andrew should be removed from the public-facing royal family and left to deal with the consequences of his actions privately, rather than being “shielded” by the institution. William reportedly made these views known to his father, then-Prince Charles, shortly after the interview.

Though Andrew stepped back from public duties in 2019 and saw many of his military titles and patronages removed earlier, he was formally stripped of all remaining royal titles and honours by King Charles III in October 2025 amid renewed scrutiny of his Epstein links.

William and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, issued a joint statement in February 2026 saying they were deeply concerned for victims affected by the scandal — but did not single out Andrew by name in that message.

Context
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s role in the royal family has been a subject of controversy for years due to his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The 2019 interview, in which Andrew denied allegations linked to Epstein, damaged public perception and is now widely seen as a turning point in his royal career.
This reporting provides insight into internal dynamics within the royal family and the evolving approach to reputational risks — though it is based on sources and a forthcoming book rather than an official palace announcement.