It's high time to exorcise all the Crown's demons. Andrew's out, the Sussexes must be next - Lee Cohen

Notwithstanding Andrew’s positioning, this seems no voluntary retreat—it’s a long-overdue cleansing, a purge of a toxic blight that time and again humiliated the source.

Yet it is perhaps merely the beginning for other rogue royals.

The toxic Sussexes’ deliberate destruction demands their own swift exorcism to preserve the Crown’s honour and support its most admirable servants.

Andrew’s ousting, though belated, addresses a festering wound. His Epstein ties, the 2022 Giuffre settlement, and 2025’s fresh allegations—BBC evidence of post-2011 emails—paint a damning picture of a prince who enabled a predator.

His 2019 BBC interview was a delusional sham, denying all while clinging to privilege. His continued occupation of Royal Lodge remains a parasitic grip on the public purse.

The "final straw," as The Telegraph reports, saw Charles sever this “poisonous” bond, aligning with his vision for a streamlined monarchy.

This cleansing, rushed by today’s media frenzy, marks a partial victory—but it exposes a far more sinister threat.

The legal mechanisms for removing royal titles reveal both the power and the limitations of the Crown’s response.

Andrew’s forfeiture was a voluntary act, enabled by his consent under royal pressure, allowing him to relinquish titles like Duke of York without legislative hurdles.

However, his princely status and place in the line of succession remain intact, protected by the 1917 Letters Patent and the Act of Settlement 1701—removable only by an Act of Parliament.

This is a rare and politically charged process, last exercised under the 1917 Titles Deprivation Act. For involuntary title-stripping—such as could be sought for the Sussexes—the monarch’s prerogative can suspend styles (such as HRH), but not core titles without parliamentary approval, as evidenced by the stalled “Removal of Titles Bill” (2021–2022). This legal framework means that while the King can enforce voluntary exits, stripping the Sussexes of their peerages may demand new legislation—or their unlikely agreement.

Nevertheless, all avenues must be pursued; the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should be next. Their 2020 abandonment of the United Kingdom for Hollywood was a premeditated dagger to the Crown’s heart—a betrayal amplified by their grotesque Oprah tell-all, which smeared the family and a beloved institution with baseless slurs.

Meghan’s shameless flaunting of a discarded “HRH” on gaudy gifts, paired with her crass, money-grabbing lifestyle brand, spits on the royal legacy and the promises she made to the late Queen.

Their conduct outstrips Andrew’s private shame with brazen, public contempt. Harry’s venomous memoir, Spare—a gut-wrenching exploitation of his mother’s memory—and his most recent spiteful media rants tear at the monarchy’s fabric.

Their relentless media circus in America, crowned by a Netflix deal peddling half-truths, has turned global admiration into ridicule and derision.

Their catalogue of offences includes: a calculated assault on tradition, the monetisation of royal privilege, and the kind of public humiliation that no quiet service or charitable gesture can undo.

And yet, for all this, the Crown’s hands remain legally tied. The monarch’s prerogative may suspend their use of HRH, but cannot unilaterally revoke peerage titles without an Act of Parliament—a power last exercised over a century ago. That such limitations persist in the face of this clear and continuing affront to the institution is itself an indictment of the system.

If the Sussexes' conduct does not justify legislative action, what would? Parliament must now consider whether the laws governing the monarchy have kept pace with the public's expectations. The monarchy’s dignity and future should not be held hostage by outdated legal constraints or the reluctance to act.

The Crown’s survival is closely tied to continued public consent and popularity. Its integrity demands decisive action. The black sheep among its ranks do little to detract from its dutiful stalwarts.

While some may disagree with aspects of his approach, the King is an inspiration—soldiering on through illness, and today displaying his resolve through the purge of Prince Andrew.

National treasure Princess Anne, whose tireless work embodies the best of Britain, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, whose charitable leadership and public service inspire the nation, reflect the monarchy at its most dignified. So too do the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, who stand as magnificent ambassadors.

Yet, the Sussexes ’latest provocations—legal proceedings, media blitzes, and faux royal tours—mock these efforts. While their lack of integrity may prevent them from voluntarily surrendering their titles, the future of the monarchy would only benefit from their removal. If that requires new legislation, then Parliament must act.

Andrew’s surrender of titles and honours is a necessary first step; the Sussexes ’deliberate malfeasance and betrayal demand no less.

Exorcise all the royal villains—let the Crown heal, and prosper.