Donald Trump has said he feels “badly” for the Royal Family after Andrew Mountbatten Windsor was stripped of his titles – as it emerged he could also be stripped of his honorary rank of vice admiral.

Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One, the US president was asked about his thoughts on the King’s decision to strip his brother of his peerages in the wake of further disclosures about his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

“It’s a terrible thing that’s happened to the family,” Mr Trump said. “That’s been a tragic situation. It’s too bad. I feel badly for the family.”

The King’s brother was stripped of his prince and Duke of York titles by the monarch over his links to Epstein on Thursday.

He lost his last remaining royal titles and privileges following the posthumous publication of a memoir by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims.

She had accused Andrew of sexual assault and sued him in August 2021. The case was settled outside court for a sum believed to have been around £12m.

Andrew has denied allegations of sexual assault made by Ms Giuffre, and has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing.

Ms Giuffre, who took her own life earlier this year, claimed that – as a teenager – she had sex with Andrew on three occasions after being trafficked by billionaire paedophile Epstein and his ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

Andrew has always denied the allegations.

Ms Giuffre’s family hailed the King’s decision to remove Andrew’s titles, saying: “An ordinary American girl from an ordinary American family, brought down a British prince with her truth and extraordinary courage.”

Mr Trump has also come under pressure over his ties to Epstein. After the financier’s death in 2019, the US president downplayed their relationship and said he had “no idea” about Epstein’s crimes.

Read more: All we know about Trump and Epstein’s ‘friendship’

Andrew could lose vice admiral rank – Healey

It comes after Defence Secretary John Healey told Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that the former prince could be stripped of his honorary rank of vice admiral

Andrew was made a vice admiral on his 55th birthday in 2015 and retained the rank even after giving up his other military positions in 2022.

He had a career spanning more than 20 years in the Royal Navy, and served in the Falklands War.

Mr Healey told Sky News: “We’ve seen Andrew surrender the military positions that he’s had and we’re looking now at the one remaining position he has, which is the honorary vice admiral position and, we’ve got a process underway for that.”

Asked what that process is, he said: “We’re being guided by the King and we’re now looking to remove.”

Mr Healey was also asked if the government would legislate to remove Andrew from the line of succession.

He said that is a “matter for the King” but his personal view is “it’s neither here nor there” as Andrew has lost all other of his royal titles.

Meanwhile, Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative Party chairman, told Trevor Phillips: “Andrew’s 8th in line to succession of the monarchy.

“Parliament’s got many better things to do than to legislate for something that will never happen.”

Now simply known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor after losing his titles, he will move from Royal Lodge to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk – with his future accommodation to be privately funded by the monarch.

Pressure is now building on Andrew to give evidence before a powerful US Congressional committee.

The House Oversight Committee is investigating the Epstein affair, and several of its members have invited Andrew to come and give evidence, presenting it as an opportunity to clear his name.

Royal biographer Andrew Morton said he believes there “are more revelations to come” about Epstein from the committee.

He told Sky News: “Given the fact that Andrew hasn’t been fully comprehensive in his admissions and emails have emerged which go further than his Newsnight interview, I think that will be the fear inside the palace.”

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In a 2019 interview with Newsnight, Andrew claimed that he cut off contact with Epstein in 2010 following his release from jail for prostituting minors.

However, emails released since suggest they stayed in touch for longer.

The US ambassador to the UK has said Britain should carry out “more drilling and more production” in the North Sea.

In his first broadcast interview in the job, Warren Stephens urged the UK to make the most of its own oil and gas reserves to cut energy costs and boost the economy.

“Electricity costs are four times ours in the UK, versus the US,” he told Mornings with Ridge and Frost.

“I want the UK economy to be as strong as it possibly can be, so the UK can be the best ally to the US that it possibly can be.

“Having a growing economy is essential to that – and the electricity costs make it very difficult.”

Mr Stephens told Wilfred Frost he hoped Britain would “examine the policies in the North Sea and frankly, make some changes to it that allows for more drilling and more production”.

“You’re using oil and gas, but you’re importing it. Why not use your own?” he asked.

The ambassador said he had held meetings with Sir Keir Starmer on the energy issue while President Donald Trump was in the room, and that the prime minister was “absolutely” listening to the US view.

“I think there are members of the government that are listening,” Mr Stephens told Sky News. “There is a little bit of movement to make changes on the policy and I’ll hope that will continue.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has said the UK should be prioritising net zero by 2030 to limit climate change, rather than issuing new oil and gas drilling licences.

However, the ambassador said it would take “all energy for all countries to compete” in the future, given the huge power demands of data centres and AI.

“I don’t think Ed Miliband is necessarily wrong,” said Mr Stephens. “But I think it’s an incorrect policy to ignore your fossil fuel reserves, both in the North Sea and onshore.”

The ambassador hosted President Trump on the first night of his second UK state visit in September – a trip that was seen as a success by both sides.

Mr Stephens said President Trump and Sir Keir had a “great relationship” and pointed to the historic ties between Britain and the US as a major factor in June’s trade deal and the favourable tariff rate on the UK.

“The president really loves this country,” the ambassador told Sky News.

“I don’t think it’s coincidental that the tariff rates on the UK are generally a third, or at worst half, of what a lot of other countries are facing.

“I think the prime minister and his team did a great job of positioning the United Kingdom to be the first trade deal, but also the best one that’s been struck.”

Mr Stephens – who began his job in London in May – also touched on the Ukraine war and said President Trump’s patience with Russia was “wearing thin”.

The Alaska summit between Mr Trump and Vladimir Putin failed to produce a breakthrough, and the US leader has admitted the Russian president may be “playing” him so he can continue the fighting.

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The ambassador told Sky News he had always favoured a tough stance on Russia and was “delighted” when Mr Trump sanctioned Russia’s two biggest oil firms a few weeks ago.

However, he emphasised the president’s call that other countries must stop buying Russian energy to really tighten the screw.

“The president, has been, I would say, careful in ramping up pressure on Russia. But I think his patience is wearing out,” said Mr Stephens.

“One of the problems is a lot of European countries still depend on Russian gas,” he added.

“We’re mindful of that. We understand that, but until we can really cut off their ability to sell oil and gas around the world, they’re going to have money and Putin seems intent on continuing the war.”

The ambassador also struck a cautious but hopeful tone on future US and UK relations with China.

It comes after President Trump said his meeting this week with President Xi was a “12/10”, raising hopes the trade war between the superpowers could be simmering down.

China’s huge economy is too big to ignore – but it remains a major spy threat; the head of MI5 warned last month of an increase in “state threat activity” from Beijing (as well as Russia and Iran).

Mr Stephens praised the country’s economy and said it would be “terrific” if China could one day be considered a partner.

But he warned “impatient” China is ruthlessly focused on itself only, and would like to see the US and the West weakened.

“There’s certainly things we want to be able to do with China,” added the ambassador.

“And I know the UK wants to do things with China. The United States does, too – and we should. But I think we always need to keep in the back of our mind that China does not have our interests at heart.”

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The US military has carried out a fresh strike on what it claims are drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea – as tensions with Venezuela remain high.

Secretary for War Pete Hegseth announced the strike on Saturday, claiming the vessel was operated by a US-designated terrorist organisation, but did not name which group was targeted.

He said three people were killed.

“This vessel – like EVERY OTHER – was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics,” he said.

It’s at least the 15th strike by the US in the Caribbean or eastern Pacific since early September – operations that Venezuela has said amount to murder and whose legal justification is unclear.

At least 64 people have now been killed in the strikes.

The rhetoric coming out of the White House, coupled with the presence of American military ships in the region, has raised questions about a possible armed conflict between the US and Venezuela.

American politicians have repeatedly demanded more information from the Trump administration about the legal basis for the strikes, as well as more details about the cartels they have allegedly targeted.

“These narco-terrorists are bringing drugs to our shores to poison Americans at home – and they will not succeed,” Mr Hegseth said on Saturday.

“The Department will treat them EXACTLY how we treated Al-Qaeda. We will continue to track them, map them, hunt them, and kill them.”

Read more:
Is Trump preparing to go to war with Venezuela?
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President Donald Trump has accused Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro of leading an organised crime gang – without providing evidence – and declined to answer when questioned if the CIA has the authority to assassinate him.

In return, the Venezuelan leader has accused Mr Trump of seeking regime change and of “fabricating a new eternal war” against his country, as he appealed to the American people for peace.

A number of US navy vessels are in the region and the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier – the largest warship in the world – is also moving closer to Venezuela as speculation persists about possible further military action.