Ex-Prince Andrew Will Reportedly Still Get a Royal Funeral
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, is reportedly still slated to receive a high-profile royal funeral despite losing his titles and facing years of scandal tied to his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
According to a report from the Daily Mail, Andrew, 66, remains included on a confidential government list of senior royal family members whose deaths would trigger elaborate, pre-planned state ceremonies. British officials reportedly maintain these arrangements, known as "bridge plans," years in advance, with each senior royal's protocol assigned its own bridge-themed code name. The most famous example, Queen Elizabeth II's "Operation London Bridge," was first drafted in the 1960s and revised regularly in the decades leading up to her 2022 death. Prince Philip's death in 2021 activated a similar protocol known as "Operation Forth Bridge."
What Andrew's Funeral Would Reportedly Look Like
Sources told the Daily Mail that Andrew's arrangements would likely include a service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, followed by burial at Frogmore's Royalkan Burial Ground, a 33-acre private cemetery in Windsor's Home Park that already holds the remains of royals including the late Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, King Edward VIII and Queen Victoria.
Andrew could also retain a symbolic tie to his military background even after death. He served in the Royal Navy from 1979 to 2001 and saw combat during the Falklands War, and although King Charles stripped his honorary vice admiral rank in 2025, Andrew reportedly kept his service medals. Retired Rear Adm. Chris Parry told the Daily Mail that Navy personnel could still volunteer as pallbearers, noting that Andrew "wasn't thrown out" of the service.
A Dramatic Fall From Royal Life
The reported funeral plans stand in sharp contrast to Andrew's collapse in public standing over the past several years. He stepped back from royal duties in 2019 following a widely criticized BBC interview about his relationship with Epstein, and gradually lost his military affiliations and charitable patronages in the years that followed.
In October 2025, King Charles III formally stripped Andrew of his remaining titles, following mounting pressure over his ties to Epstein and renewed allegations from Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, who died earlier this year. A Buckingham Palace statement at the time confirmed the king had "initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew," adding that "Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor." He was also required to surrender his lease on Royal Lodge and relocate to private accommodation on the king's Sandringham estate.
The controversy escalated further in February 2026, when police arrested Andrew, on his 66th birthday, over allegations that he misused his former role as a UK trade envoy to pass confidential information to Epstein. He was held for approximately 11 hours before being released. Andrew has not been charged and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. King Charles has kept his public response measured, saying only that "the law must take its course."
Questions Over Whether the Plans Will Change
The prospect of British taxpayers funding a ceremonial royal funeral for a man who has been formally removed from royal duties has drawn criticism, with some observers calling for the government's plans to be revised. Royal historian Rafe Heydel-Mankoo suggested any resolution may not come during King Charles's reign.
"Given Andrew's age and health, any decision on his funeral is unlikely soon," Heydel-Mankoo said, adding that the decision could ultimately fall to Prince William once he becomes king. William has reportedly taken a notably firmer stance toward his uncle than earlier generations of the royal family, leaving open the possibility that Andrew's existing arrangements could eventually be revised or scrapped altogether by a future monarch.
Buckingham Palace has not issued a public statement addressing the funeral report.
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