King Charles' ruthless move to banish his younger brother Andrew from public life was born of a desire to insulate a weakened monarchy before he passes on the crown, but it remains to be seen if the profound damage can be contained.

Charles stripped Andrew of his title of prince, evicted him from his mansion near Windsor Castle and said he and the queen were thinking of survivors of abuse, to draw a line under a scandal around his ties to Jeffrey Epstein that has buffeted the royals for years.

But some commentators said the move should have come much earlier.

With Queen Camilla and the king's sister-in-law Sophie both long-term campaigners against sexual violence, royal author Robert Hardman said Andrew's ties to the U.S. sex offender were increasingly putting the royal family in "Team

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