Watch moment BBC Question Time audience gasps & breaks into applause after hearing Andrew was stripped of Prince title

THIS is the moment a crowd gasps and bursts into applause after hearing shamed Andrew had been stripped of his Prince title.

An episode of BBC’s Question Time was paused to relay the news on Thursday evening.

The audience erupted with joy as host Fiona Bruce announced disgraced Andy – known now as just Andrew Mountbatten Windsor – would be booted from the sprawling 31-bedroom mansion.

Crowd members also cheered when the presenter revealed the ex-Duke of York was voted most unpopular royal ever.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, speaking on the show, commented: “Obviously this is a huge development and a big step for the King to take.

“I have to say, just, you know, as an initial response, I really support the step that he’s taken.

“I think [it’s] a very powerful message to the victims of grooming and sex offences. I used to work with children who’d been abused before I came into Parliament, including many of the girls who’d been horrifically abused by grooming gangs. 

“I read some of the testimony from some of the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, not just at the time, but recently, with news stories that have come to light.

“And I think, you know, given the new information that we have, I think this is a really brave, important and right step by the King, and I fully support it.”

It comes after Buckingham Palace released a statement at 7pm on Thursday amid growing pressures.

“His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew,” a spokesperson wrote.

“Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. His lease on Royal Lodge had, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.

“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.”

Andrew will now move to the Sandringham Estate, while ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, 66, is said to be making her own housing arrangements.

Meanwhile daughters Princess Beatrice and HRH Princess Eugenie retain their titles in line with King George V’s Letters Patent of 1917.

Prince Andrew continues to deny allegations of sexual abuse by Virginia Giuffre, who took her own life in April.

He paid out an estimated £12million in an out of court settlement in February 2022.

But despite Andy’s denials it is understood the actions taken by the King are as a result of his brother’s serious lapses of judgement.

It comes after The Sun on Sunday revealed emails showing he had lied in his ‘car crash’ Newsnight interview in 2019.

Andy had continued to email paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein months after claiming he had cut off all contact.

And more emails showed he tried to embroil a Met Police bodyguard into digging up dirt on his accuser.

Sources close to The King hinted the recent scandals had sparked him into action and insisting he acted quickly following the stories which led to his scandal-hit sibling relinquishing the use of his Duke of York title.

But it is understood a more permanent solution needed to be found and that further stronger action was ultimately inevitable.

It has been only two weeks since Andy released a statement announcing he was giving up his titles.

At the time he said: “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.”

Yet pressure has grown for the ex-prince to be evicted from Royal Lodge and be formally stripped.

But the aim has always been to act without using up Parliamentary time, it is said.

The formal process of stripping the title began yesterday enacted and the ‘Duke of York’ is to be formally removed from the Peerage Roll.

Andy was given the title by the late Queen Elizabeth II on his wedding day to ex-wife Sarah in 1986 – and used to belong to her father King George VI.

The move means, despite Andy agreeing to hand it back, the title cannot be officially used rather than just given up.

Charles, who has been battling cancer for more than 18 months, is sending Royal Warrants to the Lord Chancellor to secure the removal of the Dukedom.

In a brutal step he not only loses the Dukedom but also officially drops the title of ‘Prince’ and is no longer a ‘Royal Highness’.

His other royal titles of Inverness and Killyleagh are also binned.

The process means an Act of Parliament, which would take up debating hours, is not required.

Instead, the family issue is being dealt with by the King’s Royal Prerogative.

Sources close to the decision say although the brutal process was kickstarted by King Charles – yet his beleaguered younger brother has accepted his fate.

And despite the process being firmly a Royal Family business, the government has been consulted and backs the King’s ruling.

There has been not statement from Andrew.

Andrew’s eviction from Royal Lodge comes after his sex abuse accuser Virginia made a number of claims against him in her posthumous 400-page biography.

And Virginia’s brother has released a statement following news of Andrew’s eviction.

“Today, an ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family, brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage,” said her brother Skye and sister-in-law Amanda.

“Virginia Roberts Giuffre, our sister, a child when she was sexually assaulted by Andrew, never stopped fighting for accountability for what had happened to her and to countless other survivors like her.

“Today, she declares victory. We, her family, along with her survivor sisters, continue Virginia’s battle and will not rest until the same accountability applies to all of the abusers and abettors connected to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.”

Ms Giuffre has alleged she was trafficked to have sex with Andrew on three occasions.

The former Duke of York has always denied any wrongdoing and maintains he has never met Virginia.

Despite insisting he had never met Virginia, the former duke paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with her in 2022.

And in the latest blow for Andy, Republic says it has instructed lawyers to launch legal proceedings if there is “sufficient evidence” of wrongdoing.

Cops are also set to investigate claims that royal protection officers obstructed lawyers trying to deliver legal papers to Andrew.