Prince William reportedly reached out to his uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, following the decision to strip him of his royal titles, with claims suggesting he offered personal condolences during a difficult period.
According to author Robert Hardman in his book Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story, Andrew was said to be “very touched” by the gesture, with William described as one of the few senior royals who made contact at that time.
Kensington Palace, however, declined to comment when approached about the claim.
The decision to remove Andrew’s royal title and remove him from Royal Lodge reportedly came in October 2025, following continued scrutiny over his past association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Earlier in the year, Prince William and Princess Catherine publicly addressed concerns surrounding newly surfaced Epstein-related documents. A spokesperson for the couple said they were “deeply concerned by the continuing revelations,” adding that their focus remained firmly on supporting the victims. The statement was released ahead of their official visit to Saudi Arabia, according to Kensington Palace.
Soon after the documents were made public, Andrew—formerly known as prince—was arrested on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, with allegations that he passed confidential trade-related documents to Epstein. If found guilty, he could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Following the arrest, Prince William reportedly admitted that he was not “in quite a calm state,” reflecting the emotional strain the situation placed on the royal family.
Sources also claim that William had long pushed for Andrew’s removal from royal life. As far back as 2019, after Andrew’s controversial BBC Newsnight interview in which he failed to express regret over his friendship with Epstein, William allegedly urged King Charles and the late Queen Elizabeth II to take stronger action.
Royal author Russell Myers stated that William was particularly disturbed by Andrew’s refusal to acknowledge the suffering of Epstein’s victims, describing it as a “red line” for the Prince of Wales.
Another royal biography, William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story, further claims that William privately insisted Andrew should be completely removed from both public duties and the wider royal structure. The author added that William believed firm action was necessary, though he recognized that such decisions ultimately rested with King Charles.
Despite his strong stance, William is also said to have supported his father’s leadership on the matter while backing any steps taken to address the situation.
Separately, Virginia Giuffre—one of Epstein’s accusers who died in April 2025—had previously filed a civil lawsuit against Andrew in 2021, alleging sexual assault when she was 17. Andrew has consistently denied all allegations, and the case was later settled privately in 2022 for a reported $12 million.
