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Why Prince Andrew Is Still in Line for Throne After Losing Royal Titles
Prince Edward is only concerned about one thing amid the continued scrutiny into Jeffrey Epstein and his apparent associates.
Less than four months after King Charles III stripped their other brother Prince Andrew—now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor—of his royal title for alleged ties to the late disgraced financier, the Duke of Edinburgh emphasized his focus is on the victims.
“I think it’s all really important always to remember the victims,” he said during a CNN broadcast of World Governments Summit in Dubai Feb. 3, “and who are the victims in all this, a lot of victims in all this.”
The 61-year-old—dad to Lady Louise, 21, and James, Viscount Severn, 18, with wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh—declined to comment any further on the topic during his engagement.
“With the best will in the world, I’m not sure this is the audience that is probably the least bit interested in that,” the youngest of late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s four kids added. “They all came here to listen to education, solving the future.”
Edward’s stance, however, echoes the statement King Charles and wife Queen Camilla issued shortly after it was confirmed that Andrew would relinquish his royal title. (Around the same time, it was confirmed that Andrew and ex-wife Sarah Ferguson would be moving out of their residence at Royal Lodge on the Windsor Castle grounds and Sarah officially stopped using her former Duchess of York title.)
“These censures are deemed necessary,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. “Notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.”
The royals added, “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.”
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Meanwhile, The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) continues to parse through the files related to Epstein, including his email correspondence. On Feb. 2, the DOJ released documents including an email in which Sarah—who shares Eugenie, 35, and Beatrice, 37, with ex Andrew—makes a lewd comment about her older daughter.
In response to Epstein asking if Sarah would like to spend the weekend in New York, she responded in a March 2010 email reviewed by E! News, “Not sure yet. Just waiting for Eugenie to come back from a shagging weekend!!”
E! News reached out to a rep for Sarah as well as Buckingham Palace regarding the email but did not hear back.
For Andrew’s part, he shared back in October that he was aligned with Charles’ decision to strip him of his titles, noting he wanted to “put my duty to my family and country first.”
And while the 65-year-old—who previously settled a civil lawsuit with late accuser Virginia Guiffre—maintained he “vigorously denied” the sexual abuse allegations against him, he added in his statement, “We have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.”
For more news about the royal families around the world in 2026, keep reading…
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Marius Borg Høiby, Son of Norway's Crown Princess, Arrested Ahead of Rape Trial
Marius Borg Høiby—the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and step-son of Crown Prince Haakon—was arrested Feb. 1 for assault, threats with a knife and violation of a restraining order, Oslo police confirmed in a statement to The Associated Press.
The 29-year-old—who does not carry a royal title or official duties—is being kept in detention for up to four weeks over risks of reoffending after the Oslo district court granted the request. His attorney Petar Sekulic told the outlet that they are considering appealing the decision.
Høiby is expected in court Feb. 3 as part of a separate indictment regarding four alleged rapes between 2018 and 2024, as well as two alleged acts of violence against a partner and violating a restraining order.
His defense team addressed the allegations in a statement to the AP, saying that Høiby "denies all charges of sexual abuse, as well as the majority of the charges regarding violence."
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Flora Vesterberg, Queen Elizabeth's Cousin, Announces Pregnancy
Flora Vesterberg, the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II's first cousin Princess Alexandra, announced that she is pregnant with her and husband Timothy Vesterberg's first baby.
"Delighted to share that Timothy and I are expecting our first child," she wrote on Instagram Jan. 19. "We're truly over the moon."
Photo by Brook Mitchell / AFP via Getty Images
Prince Harry Appears in Court for Lawsuit Against U.K. Tabloids
Harry appeared at London’s High Court Jan. 19 for the start of what is expected to be a weeks-long trial against Associated Newspapers—the media group that publishes the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, and Mail Online—over allegations of unethical newsgathering tactics
Other stars including Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, and Sadie Frost are also taking aim against the publishing company in the lawsuit.
Associated Newspapers has “vigorously denied” the claims, according to the BBC.
Instagram/Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Celebrate 10 Years Together
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex celebrated ten years together by sharing a romantic black and white video of themselves dancing in their backyard.
Set to Olivia Dean’s “So Easy (To Fall In Love),” the couple revealed that the clip was recorded by none other than their 4-year-old daughter Lilibet. Alongside a camera emoji, Meghan—who also shares 6-year-old son Archie with Harry— added in the caption of the Jan. 16 Instagram post, “cred: our daughter.”
The couple also shared a throwback photo from their first year of dating. In the adorable snap, the pair embraced each other during a nature-filled getaway.
“When 2026 feels just like 2016….,” Meghan wrote in the caption. “You had to be there.”
Photo by Europa Press/Europa Press via Getty Images
Princess Irene of Greece Dies at 83
The Greek royal family’s private office announced Jan. 15 that Queen Sofia of Spain’s sister died at the age of 83.
As the statement read, "It is with deep sadness that the Greek Royal Family announces that HRH Princess Irene, beloved sister and aunt, passed away on Thursday, January 15th 2026, at 11:40 local time, in Zarzuela Palace in Madrid surrounded by loved ones."
Her funeral was held Jan. 19 at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens following her death, with the burial at the Royal Cemetery of Tatoi.
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Kate Middleton Celebrates Her Birthday With Moving Message
On her 44th birthday, the Princess of Wales shared a message on the power of nature to heal.
“Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration,” Kate said in a voiceover alongside footage of snowy landscapes in her Jan. 9 video. “Where the stream slows just enough for us to see our own reflection, to discover the deepest parts of ourselves, alongside the whispers and the pulse of every living thing.”
She added, “I find myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am. For the rivers within us flow with ease, fears washed away, cleanse and purify, come to peace with our tears and discover what it means to be alive, to be at one with nature—a quiet teacher and a soft voice that guides in memory helping us to heal in.”
(Photo by Isabel Infantes / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Kate Middleton Makes Surprise Appearance With Prince William
The Princess of Wales marked her first public appearance of 2026 as she joined her husband during an engagement at the Charing Cross Hospital in London. The outing in support of healthcare workers came almost a year after she announced she was in remission following her cancer diagnosis.
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