England: Prince Andrew has announced that he will relinquish all his titles, including his long-held designation as the Duke of York, in a personal statement.
The decision comes with mounting pressure over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as calls grew for Buckingham Palace to act. The move was made in consultation with King Charles III and Prince William, the Prince of Wales.
In his statement, Prince Andrew said he continues to deny the accusations against him vigorously but acknowledged that the ongoing controversy had become a distraction to the Royal Family.
Andrew stated that, “In discussion with the King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family. With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me.”
Though he will stay a prince by birth, Andrew will no longer be the Duke of York, a title conferred upon him by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Andrew has also resigned from the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most prestigious order of chivalry in Britain.
The 64-year-old had already stepped back from public duties in 2019 and was stripped of his HRH style and military affiliations in 2022. His latest decision marks a further decline in his royal standing, effectively removing him from all formal royal roles.
Andrew is expected to remain at his private residence, the Royal Lodge in Windsor, where he holds a lease until 2078. His ex-wife will revert to being known as Sarah Ferguson, while their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their titles.
The announcement follows renewed scrutiny ahead of the release of a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was 17. Giuffre, who died earlier this year, had previously brought a civil case against the prince, which he settled in 2022 without admitting liability.
Her brother, Sky Roberts, described the news as a ‘vindication’ of Giuffre’s efforts. Fellow Epstein accuser Haley Robson called the development ‘bittersweet’ and praised King Charles for allowing the decision, saying it was long delayed but very appropriate.
In recent years, Andrew has faced multiple controversies, from financial questions and his ties to alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo to his involvement in business dealings that attracted public scrutiny. Buckingham Palace has not issued an official comment beyond confirming that the King had been consulted and agreed to the decision.
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