Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will be stripped of his honorary rank of vice-admiral, the Defence Secretary has said.

The disgraced royal was made a vice-admiral on his 55th birthday in 2015 and retained the rank after giving up his other military positions in 2022.

Mr Healey told the BBC: “In general, the Government’s been guided by the decisions and judgments the King has made.

“In defence, it’s exactly the same. And we’ve seen Andrew surrender the honorary positions he’s had throughout the military, and guided again by the King, we are working now to remove that last remaining title of vice-admiral that he has.”

Andrew will lose his honorary rank as vice-admiral.

 | PAWhen questioned about whether Andrew could lose his military medals too, Mr Healey said they were “medals for his service”.

He added: “I don’t have an update for you on that, but just as with his vice-admiral rank and title, we would be guided by the decisions the King makes.”

The news will be a further blow to the former prince, who was stripped of his title on Thursday.

The move came just weeks after it was announced that King Charles’s younger brother would no longer use his Duke of York title.

Defence Secretary John Healey made the announcement.

 | PAIt was also declared that Andrew would vacate Royal Lodge and is set to move to the Sandringham Estate in the new year.

A statement from Buckingham Palace has been issued, reading: “His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.

“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

“His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.

Despite Andrew losing his titles, the King is believed to be keen to ‘protect’ Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

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“Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.

“These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.

“Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”

The removal process applies to Andrew’s titles of Prince, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killyleagh and the style “His Royal Highness”.

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice will retain their royal titles.

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The honours affected are Andrew’s Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will keep their titles.

The King is said to be very keen to “protect” nieces.

The sisters remain Her Royal Highnesses as granddaughters of Queen Elizabeth II.

Andrew has always denied wrongdoing, but it is understood that the scandals surrounding the King’s brother were becoming too much of a distraction.