William and Kate pushed for Andrew to be ousted: Prince and Princess believed ‘clean break’ was only way forward

The Prince and Princess of Wales made it clear that a clean break from Andrew was the only way the Royal Family can move forward, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Before he was stripped of his royal titles, William and Kate backed the King, saying they also wanted him kicked out of Windsor. 

The King was ‘gravely concerned’ that the future of the monarchy was at stake unless he acted decisively to banish his beleaguered brother, the Daily Mail understands.

Despite the united family front, however, Buckingham Palace had to walk a legal and constitutional tightrope to ensure moves to completely strip Andrew of his birthright, titles and home did not backfire. 

Given the impact of the scandal, there were also serious fears about his mental health, which had to be balanced against the need to act ruthlessly. 

William, a long-term mental-health campaigner, is understood to have been particularly worried about his uncle’s wellbeing. 

Concerns were also raised privately by other family members including Andrew’s siblings, Prince Edward and Princess Anne.

However, the King and his wife, Queen Camilla, who has long campaigned for those affected by domestic and sexual violence, were also determined to publicly show their support for victims and survivors of ‘any and all forms of abuse’.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail about the behind-the-scenes drama of the past few days, insiders have also revealed that the former Duchess of York, now known simply as Sarah Ferguson, may quit the UK to live abroad because she has ‘nowhere else to turn’.

Sources say ‘the phone has simply stopped ringing’ and, for the first time in almost 30 years, she is considering a future overseas alone.

It comes as:

• The family of Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was trafficked by convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with Andrew on three occasions, has called for a criminal investigation into her allegations. ‘He’s still walking around a free man,’ her brother said.

• Andrew’s profile on the official Royal Family website was deleted but a statement from October 17 of him announcing he would no longer use his title or honours remains.

• The Crown Estate continues to ‘review’ his decision to surrender his 75-year lease on Royal Lodge to ascertain whether he is entitled to up to £500,000 in compensation for quitting it early.

• Locals on the King’s estate at Sandringham in Norfolk expressed their outrage that his brother would now be given a home there.

• Sources indicated that the former royal’s move was not imminent and could take many weeks to conclude, possibly not even until the new year.

• The King appeared in public for the first time since Thursday’s announcement that he had acted to cut his brother off at the knees, driving through his Norfolk estate.

The Daily Mail understands that Andrew – who has fought his brother’s attempts to demote him every step of the way – was told by royal aides on Wednesday morning of the King’s plans to invoke legal moves to finally strip him of all titles and honours. 

Previously, Andrew had only agreed not to use them voluntarily.

Charles, 76, is also believed to have spoken to him personally by phone to explain his decision.

He had hoped not to have to force his brother’s hand, but came to the conclusion that deep reputational damage to the monarchy was being done on a daily basis – and enough was enough.

However, efforts to ensure that Andrew was presented with a legally watertight ultimatum went to the wire on Thursday evening, accounting for the palace’s bombshell 7pm announcement.

Camilla was ‘completely supportive’ of her husband, and was acutely aware, given her own work over many years with the victims of abuse, how important it was to express their personal sympathies with those affected – in contrast to Andrew, who has shown none. 

As heir to the throne, Prince William made it clear that he backed his father completely.

He and Kate were also apparently concerned, having made it clear that Windsor will remain their home after their accession, that the estate would be ‘forever tainted’ if Andrew stayed there. 

Even Andrew himself realised that to live there would leave him continually open to public criticism that he was living in Crown Estate property, the profits of which are paid to the Treasury.

By contrast, Sandringham is the monarch’s private property, meaning that Charles can support and fund his brother, where necessary, personally. 

The Daily Mail understands that while plans to give him a new home are under way, his move is likely to be many weeks away.

Sources said speculation that he will move to Wood Farm, the Duke of Edinburgh’s former home on the estate, or another former royal property, York Cottage, were ‘wide of the mark’. 

One said: ‘Can you imagine the optics of putting a shamed former Duke of York in a place called York Cottage? 

‘There are lots of places on the estate that he can be hidden away.’

For now, Mr Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, as he will be known, remains a virtual recluse at Royal Lodge, not even allowed to ride the King’s horses in public.

His ex-wife, Sarah, is unlikely to move with him. Friends say both appear to be ‘on the brink’ over their humiliating public downfall, while their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are said to be ‘devastated’ by the scandal.

A senior former aide to Queen Elizabeth, ex-press secretary Ailsa Anderson, told the Daily Mail last night: ‘His humiliation is complete. 

‘The palace statement was absolutely unprecedented and decisive, and rightly so.

‘I am so pleased Queen Elizabeth is not here to see this. She was all about duty and service. It was never about self. For her, it was always about her country.’

Another former royal aide said of Andrew: ‘The irony that the only titles someone as obsessed with status and standing has left are “Randy Andy” and “Air Miles Andrew” is lost on no one. 

‘He will only be remembered as the most disgraced royal of his generation.’