Prince Andrew has been branded and stripped of his home and royal title

This article is not in defense or condemnation of the former Prince Andrew, but an objective look at his current circumstance.

What's in a name?

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet". This line from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet seems appropriate regarding the current circumstances of the man the world knew as Prince Andrew Mountbatten. Windsor, Duke of York.

Now known only as Andrew, he continues to be stripped of his titles.  It reminds me of the television series Branded, which ran on NBC from 1965-1966. As the opening theme song plays, Colonel Jason McCord (Chuck Conners) is being stripped of his identity by a superior.

Stripped and branded

One by one the officer snatches the items that indicated that McCord was a decorated Colonel for the US Army. He removes his hat, a patch of honor from his left shoulder, then the one on his right shoulder. Next, a scarf, several jacket buttons, and his belt are snatched away. His sword is the last item taken, and it is broken in half over the superior officer's knee.

The son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip was born a royal, but that does not seem to matter now. He has been stripped of his identity as one by one, like Jason McCord, his life is pulled apart. The "prince" title was the first to go, and Andrew will no longer be referred to as "His Royal Highness," or the "Duke of York."

The Queen's wishes are being fulfilled

After his connection to Jeffrey Epstein led to scrutiny, the disgraced Andrew announced that he had given up his "Duke of York" title. King Charles later stripped "Prince" from his name, and now the royal is being begrudgingly forced to accept a hyphen in his name between "Mountbatten" and "Windsor."

The Epstein files have yet to be released, and the above image of Andrew with Donald and Melania Trump has led to speculation about their connection to the convicted sex trafficker who died in prispn.

According to The Times a statement made by Queen Elizabeth in the 1960s may result in Andrew having no choice but to use the hyphen.

"Now therefore I declare My Will and Pleasure that, while I and My children shall continue to be styled and known as the House and Family of Windsor, My descendants other than descendants enjoying the style, title or attribute of royal highness and the titular dignity of Prince or Princess and female descendants who marry and their descendants shall bear the name of Mountbatten-Windsor."

It seems Prince Phillip complained about being the only man in the country who could not give his last name to hsi children. That's the price he paid for marrying a queen. Elizabeth II decided on this change to accommodate her spouse.

A Royal mess

Virginia Giuffre, who is in the above image with Ghislaine Maxwell, claims she had sex with the former prince when she was only seventeen. Like Epstein, Giuffre is dead, and Maxwell is in prison.

The former Prince Andrew is free to live his life, but in a manner of speaking, he too is in a prison of his own making. He has to live with his guilt if he did what he is accused of and knows the world is watching.

He had a life that most men dream of, but could not follow royal protocol on behavior. Early on, he dated soft porn star Koo Stark, which raised eyebrows. Some believe that Andrew, like his nephew Prince Harry, is dealing with the heir, and the spare syndrome.

Be that as it may, many will always consider him Prince Andrew because that's what they have called him for 65 years. Officially, however, Prince Andrew Mountbatten. Windsor, His Royal Highness, Duke of York, is no more.

He has also lost his royal living space and will soon move to a residence on the private Sandringham Estate. And may also, against his will, be forced to become Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Stripped by the Royals and branded by the public.