Sir Keir Starmer has backed King Charles over his decision to strip Andrew’s royal titles and honours.

The Prime Minister added that Sir Keir’s thoughts are with the victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes.

A spokesman for Starmer said: “We fully support the decision taken yesterday by the Palace.

“Our hearts go out to the family of Virginia Giuffre and all the victims who suffered from Jeffrey Epstein’s despicable crimes.”

Referring to Buckingham Palace’s statement last night, he added: “We echo the statement yesterday that our thoughts and utmost sympathies have been and will remain with the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”

It comes as Andrew has suffered a new hammer blow as a key step has been taken in permanently removing his royal title.

The disgraced royal’s name no longer appears on the official roll of the peerage, marking a key step in formally removing his titles.

Dukes, including the Duke of York, are listed on the roll of the peerage maintained at the Crown Office.

As Lord Chancellor, David Lammy is responsible for maintaining the peerage roll.

On Thursday evening, Buckingham Palace released a statement confirming that Andrew would lose all his titles and honours.

The statement said: “His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.

“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.

“Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.

“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.

“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”

The sanctions were placed upon Andrew due to his historical serious lapses of judgment, according to royal sources.

Andrew had a public friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Virginia Giuffre, who took her own life earlier this year, alleged that she had sex on three separate occasions with Andrew while being trafficked by Epstein as a teenager.

The royal has consistently denied all allegations against him, having reached a financial settlement with Ms Giuffre in 2022, made without any admission of liability.

Ms Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl, was released earlier this month, where she made fresh allegations against the disgraced royal.

Our Standards:
The GB News Editorial Charter