Andrew's fall from grace 'inevitable' as royals avoid 'risk' at the eleventh hour

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's recent humiliation was "inevitable" following the latest bombshells about his links to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The former Duke of York was further plunged into humiliation on Thursday after his brother, the King, made the shocking decision to strip him of his royal titles and honours.

Andrew, whose association with Epstein led to his downfall, will effectively have the status of a commoner and be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He has also agreed to leave Royal Lodge in Windsor.

Now, a PR expert has praised the Royal Family for their "very clever" move, which was said to be "inevitable" after Andrew's ongoing bombshells that would pose a "risk" for the Firm going forward.

Renae Smith, founder of The Atticism, told the Express: "From a PR perspective, I think this move was inevitable.

"The Royal Family (if we consider it as a business) can't afford to carry reputational baggage that heavy, and the public's patience about Prince Andrew had well and truly worn out.

"I think we all know there's been wrongdoing, and even if they don't admit that publicly in specifics, keeping Andrew in the fold, even quietly, was always going to be a risk to the brand."

She also praised how the royals handled the "Andrew problem" in order to control the narrative to their advantage.

Ms Smith explained: "I'm genuinely admiring the calculated move and the way they are controlling the negative narrative before they can be seen as being reactive. It's so clever."

Andrew had tainted the reputation of the royal family with his association with Epstein and, for many years, was dogged by allegations he sexually abused Ms Giuffre, who took her own life in April, after she was trafficked by the financier. He has strenuously denied the allegations.

The monarchy had come under increasing pressure to resolve the issues around Andrew, foremost his property arrangements, amid growing calls for him to give up Royal Lodge after it emerged he was paying a "peppercorn" rent.

Andrew is to move into an undisclosed private residence on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk as soon as practicable, it is understood.

The family of Virginia Giuffre said she had "brought down a prince" after Charles' decision.