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Prince Andrew is set to lose his honorary military rank while the monarch attempts to draw a line under the continuing controversy surrounding his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Removal Process In Progress

The former prince will be stripped of his honorary rank of naval commander, which he was granted in 2015 and had retained even after giving up other military positions in 2022.

Defence Secretary John Healey announced on Sunday that ministers were working with the king to remove his naval honours.

"In general, the government has been guided by the decisions and judgments the king has made. In defence, it's precisely identical," the defense secretary said.

Additional Consequences

When questioned about Mountbatten Windsor could forfeit his service awards as well, the minister answered that they were "medals for his service" and continued: "There's no current information on that, but just as with his naval title, we would be directed by the decisions the king makes."

Historical Circumstances

Mountbatten Windsor has been facing fresh examination over his connections with Epstein following the publication of late-published recollections by Virginia Giuffre, who alleges she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions, including when she was 17 years old.

Newly released emails demonstrate that the ex-royal contacted Epstein in 2010 after the latter was released from jail on allegations involving soliciting prostitution.

In the correspondence released on Friday, the convicted sex offender suggested that Mountbatten Windsor meet former JP Morgan executive Jes Staley, who was prohibited from the UK banking sector for life in June for misleading the watchdog about his relationship with Epstein.

Military Service

The former duke served in the navy for more than two decades, including as a aircraft commander during the 1982 conflict. After a civil case was initiated three years ago, he stopped using most of his military titles but kept the rank of vice-admiral.

His military retirement pay is his only current source of declared income after serving between 1979 and 2001, reportedly totaling twenty thousand pounds annually.

Recent Developments

Royal officials officially declared last week he would be stripped of the honors of prince and Duke of York, as well as being made to leave his residence at Royal Lodge and move into personal housing in Sandringham.

Palace officials had worked with civil servants in the Cabinet Office to prevent the decision having to be taken by parliament, eventually agreeing that the king should remove the title entirely using his monarchical authority.

While the loss of his titles comes into effect immediately, the former prince is not expected to leave Royal Lodge until after Christmas, meaning he will not be present when the royals gather at Sandringham for the festive season.