It’s increasingly clear that a dramatic shake-up is taking place within the British royal family. After Prince Andrew was officially stripped of his royal titles earlier this week, fresh details have emerged about how the decision came about.

While it was ultimately King Charles III who made the call – removing Andrew’s styles, honours, and residential lease at the Royal Lodge, and renaming him Andrew Mountbatten Windsor – insiders suggest the wider royal family played a critical role in shaping the outcome.

A source close to the royals told People that the tone of the Palace’s formal statement carried “a female touch,” fueling speculation that Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton were actively involved in influencing the decision.

“I would think the Queen had a hand in that… There would have been a push from Camilla and Catherine, and there was pressure from William, who would not want to inherit the headache,” the source said.

Observers have interpreted this as evidence that key family members were determined to address the controversy decisively, rather than letting it linger and potentially damage the monarchy’s reputation further.

The anatomy of the decision

The Palace’s official letter announced: “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.”

The statement added that formal notice had been served for him to surrender that lease and move to alternative private accommodation. Significantly, it concluded: “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.”

Pressure had been mounting on the royals in recent months, particularly following renewed allegations that Andrew maintained ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein long after claiming to have cut contact. King Charles is said to have grown “exasperated” with his brother’s failure to take meaningful accountability.

While Charles and Andrew are siblings, and the King undoubtedly feels some familial care, sources suggest he found the situation both challenging and painful, as he would have preferred Andrew to address the allegations himself.

Kate and William appear determined to help the monarchy move forward with a renewed focus on accountability and public trust. One insider described the family as “definitely looking to the future,” seeing Andrew’s title removal as part of a generational shift aimed at modernizing the institution and reinforcing its moral responsibility.

Meanwhile, Andrew’s daughters – Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie – will retain their titles, ensuring the next generation is unaffected by their father’s controversies.

The Palace’s decision signals that the royal family is taking a firm stance on accountability, even when it involves close relatives. The influential voices of Queen Camilla, Princess Kate, and Prince William appear central in guiding the monarchy through one of its most delicate and highly publicized crises in recent memory.

The message is clear: the British royal family is prepared to uphold its integrity, prioritize victims, and draw a line between itself and scandal.