The Duke of York, Andrew, has suffered a further personal blow with the revocation of his firearms certificate, following the King's decision to strip him of his royal titles and military affiliations.
Police Visit Royal Lodge in Windsor
In a significant development, specialist firearms licensing officers from the Metropolitan Police attended Royal Lodge in Windsor on Wednesday, November 19. The 65-year-old, known to be a keen huntsman, was requested to voluntarily surrender his certification for shotguns and rifles.
A source described the move as a "real blow" to Andrew, stating he will now be under "strict supervision." During the visit, officers are not believed to have seized the physical firearms but imposed stringent new conditions on their storage and access.
A Consequence of Changed Circumstances
While gun licences are subject to regular review, police have the power to act ahead of schedule if the holder experiences a significant 'change of circumstance' or if public safety concerns arise. The removal of Andrew's HRH style and princely title by King Charles III in the wake of the ongoing Epstein scandal constitutes such a change.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the action in a statement, noting: "The certificate was surrendered, and we will not be commenting any further at this stage." Andrew continues to reside at Royal Lodge, a home for which he does not pay rent.
Deepening Scrutiny from Epstein Document Releases
This latest setback coincides with the public release of further documents from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Among the newly revealed images is one depicting Andrew lying across the laps of five women, with Ghislaine Maxwell smiling in the background.
Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019 following his widely criticised Newsnight interview concerning his association with Epstein. The publication of Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir and the US government's document release have intensified scrutiny of his past connections.
The cumulative pressure from these revelations directly led to the King's decisive action in removing his brother's royal styles. Andrew has consistently and vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
