Donald Trump has said he feels sorry for the royal family after the former Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal titles amid pressure over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

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Former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed sympathy for the British royal family after former Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal titles due to renewed scrutiny over his connection with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on November 2, 2025, Trump, 79, said, “I feel very badly. It’s a terrible thing that’s happened to the family. That’s been a tragic situation, and it’s too bad.” His comments came after Buckingham Palace announced that Andrew would now be known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, following King Charles III’s decision to remove his royal and military honors, including the Order of the Garter and the Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order. The move represents an unprecedented step in the modern history of the monarchy.

Andrew’s downfall began with renewed public attention on his friendship with Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Although Andrew has denied all allegations, his association with Epstein has long haunted him, especially after Virginia Giuffre accused him of sexual assault when she was 17. In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II stripped Andrew of his remaining duties and patronages after he attempted to dismiss Giuffre’s lawsuit before settling it privately. The recent decision by King Charles further distances the royal family from the scandal as Andrew prepares to vacate his longtime residence at the Royal Lodge in Windsor.

Trump himself has faced scrutiny for his past interactions with Epstein and Andrew. The trio was photographed together at Mar-a-Lago in the early 2000s, and Trump once called Epstein a “terrific guy” who “likes beautiful women as much as I do.” Though he later denied close ties, critics have pointed to multiple connections between the men. Still, Trump’s expression of pity for the royal family underscores his awareness of the reputational and personal toll such scandals take on public figures. The episode marks a painful chapter for both the Windsors and their global image, highlighting how past associations continue to shape legacies long after the headlines fade.

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