King axes Andrew’s private security team
The security detail has been told their services will not be needed from November.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The King is to axe the Duke of York’s security team, according to reports.
Andrew’s private security have been privately funded by Charles after he lost publicly-funded police protection in 2022.
According to The Sun on Sunday, members of the security detail have been told their services will not be needed from November.
A palace insider told the newspaper: “Everyone is speculating this means the duke will have to leave the Royal Lodge because what other reason could there be to take his security away?
Sources added: “It isn’t a secret that the King wants him out.”
The Sun said both Charles and Andrew are staying at the Balmoral estate in Scotland this weekend.
Pressure on Andrew continues to mount after the unsealing of hundreds of pages of court documents connected to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Earlier this year, it was reported Andrew refused an offer to move out of Royal Lodge into nearby Frogmore Cottage.
The duke was said to have signed a 75-year lease on the mansion in 2003.
In January, reports suggested Andrew would have to fund the multi-million-pound security costs at Royal Lodge himself if he wanted to stay in the 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park.
A batch of legal papers released earlier this year detailed how Epstein’s former housekeeper JUan Alessi claimed the duke had daily massages when he spent “weeks” at the paedophile financier’s Florida home.
Juan Alessi, who worked at Epstein’s Palm Beach residence, said both the duke and his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, were friends with Epstein and the now-convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
Previous allegations Andrew sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre three times when she was 17 including during an orgy resurfaced in the court documents.
He strenuously denies the claims and in 2022 paid millions to Ms Giuffre to settle a civil case out of court, saying he never met her.
The Metropolitan Police said no new investigation has been launched.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.