Why Mail readers think removing titles is only way to save monarchy,
Daily Mail readers have called for King Charles to now remove titles from Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, after it was announced on Friday that Andrew would no longer be known as ‘Prince’ and would move out of the Royal Lodge.
Readers staunchly supported the King’s decision amid the ongoing fallout from Andrew’s friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and urged him to go further as it is the ‘only way’ to save the monarchy.
The Palace announced on Thursday night that the former Duke of York will now only be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, after he gave up the last of his birth titles and privileges bestowed on him by the late Queen.
He is to be banished to live on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk while his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, is expected to find her own private accommodation.
The family of Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims who alleges she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times as a teenager, has welcomed the move and said it would have ‘meant everything’ to her. Ms Giuffre took her own life earlier this year aged 41.
This is what the Daily Mail’s readers had to say.
If Charles can do this to Andrew, why not Harry and Meghan?
Readers were overwhelmingly supportive of the King’s decision to remove Andrew’s ‘Prince’ title, but largely thought he should follow by doing the same to Harry and Meghan, currently known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Peregrine Grey, from London, said: ‘It is essential that Harry and Markle are also stripped of their Royal titles given their appalling behaviour and actions which have repeatedly disrespected, damaged and abused the Monarchy.
‘It is an absolute must if the Monarchy is going to survive and move forward with integrity and public respect. The public remains outraged that this action has not yet taken place.’
‘The Markles are next,’ Bruni Banani, from Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand, added.
Louise York, from Yorkshire, said: ‘I think the royal family should be slimmed down as the Danish Queen did before she stepped down. Meaning only the family in line to take the throne has their titles. So no Harry, Megan, their children and so on.’
Andrew’s punishment is ‘not severe enough’
Some readers argued that despite the extreme steps taken by Charles III, Andrew’s move to Sandringham is hardly punishment enough.
Anna, from Sussex, said: ‘It’s just going through the motions. Yes he may have lost his title and his home, but he’ll still be given another home and still enjoy all the freeloading. It’s just King Charles being seen to do “the right thing”.’
A reader from Utrecht in the Netherlands added: ‘Things may have caught up with him to some degree, but he’s got a roof over his head, he’ll not go hungry nor will he worry about putting the heating on.
‘A bit of riding, hunting, fishing, shooting out of the public eye is an exile and punishment that most would dream of.’
And a third said: ‘Moving to Sandringham is hardly punishment, it was the Queen’s favourite residence and a perfect location for his country life horse riding and shooting. It’s a definite upgrade.’
Was the King really behind the Palace’s proclamation?
Other Daily Mail readers questioned whether Charles, who is still receiving treatment for cancer, was the primary force behind Thursday’s shock statement, after it was revealed this week Prince William was thought to be piling on the pressure.
Lucy, from Stamford, said: ‘I would say William is behind this, he has said he wants to modernise the Monarchy and this is a good start. I think William is King in all but name.’
She continued: ‘Either way, it was very much the right move to make.’
A reader from Exeter said: ‘The words may be of the King. The actions are of his son. I have a lot of faith on William as a King. The royal family will be totally modernised.’
But Mary-Ann Lamb, from the south of England, said that although she would not have predicted the King’s move, it seemed he has ‘sharp teeth’ after all.
‘Well, I didn’t see Charles going that far and I am sure Andrew never imagined it would ever happen,’ she said.
‘Perhaps we have been wrong and Charles the King really has got sharp teeth? Harry beware!’
Timing of Andrew announcement ‘wonderful’ for Starmer government
Daily Mail followers were quick to point out that regardless of the reasons behind the King’s decision, the timing of the announcement could not be better for the Prime Minister in a week where his Chancellor is facing fresh scrutiny ahead of the Budget.
‘This is a wonderful distraction and just what the government needed,’ one said.
‘Wonderful distraction from a failing government. A bankrupt country, migrant crime wave crisis, migrant invasion, mass unemployment imminently and a hopelessly underfunded military at a time of major international tension. How convenient,’ a second added.
