David Muir interrupts broadcast with bad news for Prince Andrew
David Muir alerts fans of a significant royal shake-up for Prince Andrew amid fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, as King Charles makes new announcement
During the October 30 broadcast of World News Tonight, host David Muir delivered breaking news from Buckingham Palace, which doesn't look good for the current Prince Andrew.
Muir shared the following message to viewers, “Breaking tonight, the extraordinary announcement from Buckingham Palace late today. Prince Andrew soon no longer a prince. King Charles, taking action against his younger brother in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.”
He then turned to his correspondent in London, who provided further context, explaining that Andrew was “pushed out of the Royal Family over his ties to the convicted sex predator Jeffrey Epstein. King Charles is stripping his brother of all his titles.” The commentary noted that such a stripping of a royal title has not occurred in over a century.
According to the official statement from Buckingham Palace, the King has “initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,” and that Andrew will “now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.”
The palace further noted that his lease on the royal residence known as Royal Lodge has been served notice for surrender, and that he will be required to move to private accommodation.
The decision arrives after years of mounting scrutiny of Andrew’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier convicted of sex-trafficking minors.
Previously, Andrew was removed from military titles and royal patronages in January 2022. Most recently, in October 2025, Buckingham Palace said new allegations against Andrew must be fully investigated.
Meanwhile, on October 17, Andrew issued a statement saying, “In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.
"I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life. With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
The last comparable removal of royal titles dates to the early 20th century.
Andrew held the title Duke of York, among other honours, since 1986 when Queen Elizabeth II granted them ahead of his wedding to Sarah Ferguson.
He stepped back from public royal duties in 2019 following a highly-criticised interview about his Epstein ties.
In mid-October 2025, a parliamentary motion was lodged to strip Andrew of his dukedom.
Polls indicated that four in five Britons believed the Duke of York title should be removed entirely.
According to the palace, “These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.”