After Andrew: where the monarchy’s reputation really sits now

A decisive act, finally

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that King Charles has begun the formal process to remove Prince Andrew’s remaining titles and honours, and to evict him from Royal Lodge. Reports suggest he will revert to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He continues to deny all allegations, but the decision marks the most serious internal sanction in modern royal history. It is a long-overdue act of damage control.

A brand that’s been through the wringer

The monarchy’s reputation has been fragile for decades. Since Princess Diana’s death in 1997, the family has faced recurring bouts of public distrust, not least due to the history of Charles and Camilla’s relationship, which drew heavy scrutiny at the time and shaped perceptions of the royals for years after. Despite that, Queen Elizabeth II’s calm consistency managed to hold everything together. She was the unifying figure who gave the monarchy its sense of stability and moral authority. Her famous mantra, “never complain, never explain,” became both her public philosophy and the Crown’s unwritten rulebook.

But things have begun to unravel again. The Harry and Meghan saga detonated like a PR bomb in 2021, when their Oprah interview hinted at racism within the highest levels of the royal household. It was a line that damaged the monarchy globally. Even now, the couple’s endless public fallouts, media projects and tell-all interviews have dragged the royal family into the world of spectacle and gossip, making them feel at times more like the Kardashians than the crown.

Then came the Catherine, Princess of Wales photo-editing scandal, the manipulated Mother’s Day image, international agencies pulling it, the speculation about her disappearance, and the Palace’s painfully awkward response. When Catherine later revealed her cancer diagnosis, public sympathy returned instantly, proving the British public were never the villains in that story, the communications strategy was.

It has all left the institution looking reactive, inconsistent and oddly unmodern for an operation with an entire press machine at its disposal.

Why this moment matters

For the monarchy, Andrew’s removal represents something it has rarely shown: accountability. Quietly sidelining him in 2019 did not fix anything, it simply left the problem festering. Now, by formally stripping his titles and forcing him out of Royal Lodge, the Palace has moved from damage limitation to full-scale separation.

Crucially, this has happened before new evidence or legal documents forced their hand, a rare example of the Palace acting ahead of the press rather than in response to it. For once, they have anticipated the narrative rather than been consumed by it.

I have genuinely been astonished at how poor some of the Royal Family’s communications decisions have been in recent years. I discussed this on several international news channels at the time, especially around the Catherine disappearance and photo-editing fiasco. From the confusing statements to the tone-deaf tweet they posted, it was all handled so badly. This, however, feels like one of the first smart steps they have taken in a long time, and it sends a strong and necessary message.

If Andrew had been allowed to continue living rent-free in Royal Lodge, funded indirectly by the British taxpayer through the Sovereign Grant, the public backlash would have been huge. And if he were ever officially found guilty in a court of law, it would have been catastrophic for the monarchy’s credibility. Acting now, while he remains in denial, was the right move. It sets a clear precedent that accountability still exists within the institution. It is the smartest decision they have made in years.

What is likely happening behind the scenes

Behind closed doors, this will have been months in the making. Legal advisors, constitutional experts and senior courtiers would have mapped every possible outcome before recommending that Charles take decisive action. The Palace’s communications team will be preparing carefully worded statements for every scenario, including potential backlash or legal rebuttals from Andrew’s camp.

There will also be renewed emphasis on protecting the image of the “working royals”: William, Catherine and Anne. Expect the next few months to feature quieter, controlled photo opportunities, charity work, Commonwealth events and family unity shots, all designed to refocus public attention.

In short, this is a managed reset. Andrew is being fully extracted from the royal narrative so that the remaining family can rebuild credibility through visibility and consistency.

What this means for Andrew’s future

Realistically, there is no way back for him. Even if new evidence were to appear that cast doubt on past allegations, the court of public opinion has already delivered its verdict. His reputation is shattered beyond repair.

The royal family’s decision to strip him of titles and evict him from his home speaks volumes. It is not a gesture of innocence. It is an institutional distancing, and once that line is drawn, it is almost impossible to reverse. For Andrew, life will likely continue in quiet isolation, privately funded and permanently detached from royal duty. Any attempt at public rehabilitation would almost certainly backfire.

The wider state of the monarchy

Most Britons still support the monarchy, but each scandal chips away at that loyalty. Among younger generations, the monarchy increasingly feels irrelevant, a relic rather than a unifying symbol. The loss of the Queen’s moral authority left a vacuum no one has truly filled. William and Catherine remain the most valuable reputational assets, while Charles’s approval fluctuates with the headlines.

Public support now relies less on tradition and more on behaviour. The monarchy’s future will depend on whether it can appear credible, accountable and useful, three words that have not always been easy for it to live up to.

A cautious reputational rebound

This is not redemption, but it is a step in the right direction. The Palace has finally shown that consequences exist, even for family. It will not undo years of scandal or erase the cultural divide left by the Sussex saga, but it does suggest someone inside Buckingham Palace has started thinking like a strategist again.

The monarchy may never return to its untouchable, fairytale status. But modern credibility is not about silence or mystique, it is about discipline, consistency and accountability. And for the first time in a very long time, this feels like progress.