US President Donald Trump has described the situation surrounding the British royal family as “terrible” following the decision to strip Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his remaining titles, amid reports that he could also lose his honorary military rank of vice admiral.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked to comment on King Charles III’s decision to remove his brother’s peerages after renewed scrutiny of Andrew’s ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Caliber.Az reports.

“It’s a terrible thing that’s happened to the family,” Trump said. “That’s been a tragic situation. It’s too bad. I feel badly for the family.”

The King’s move came after a series of damaging revelations concerning Andrew’s friendship with Epstein, and the posthumous publication of a memoir by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims. In her book, Giuffre revisits her allegations that Andrew sexually assaulted her — claims she had previously detailed in a 2021 lawsuit against him.

The case was settled out of court for a reported £12 million, though Andrew has consistently denied all allegations of sexual assault and wrongdoing.

October 30 royal decree formally removed Andrew’s title of Prince and Duke of York, along with his remaining royal privileges and patronages, marking the most severe disciplinary action yet taken against a senior member of the royal family in recent history.

By Vafa Guliyeva