Buckingham Palace issued a statement on the 17th, announcing that Prince Andrew will no longer use any royal titles or honors. He stated that this decision was made to prevent his personal controversies from affecting public duties of the King and the Royal Family.
Previously, Andrew had been at the center of controversy due to his involvement in sexual abuse cases related to the late American “financier and sex trafficker” Epstein.
The 65-year-old Andrew stated that he will relinquish all titles, including “Duke of York,” but reiterated his denial of the allegations: “After discussions with His Majesty the King and my immediate and extended family, we believe the ongoing allegations against me have disrupted His Majesty’s and the Royal Family’s work. I have decided, as always, to put my duty to family and country first, and stand by my decision to withdraw from public life made five years ago.”
Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah, will no longer use the title “Duchess of York.”
● Andrew Remains a Prince
Andrew is the eighth in line to the throne, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and the younger brother of King Charles III.
Despite losing several titles such as His Royal Highness, Andrew remains a prince.
Since birth, Andrew has been addressed as “His Royal Highness.” When he married Sarah in 1986, his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, granted him the title of “Duke of York,” among others.
The title “Duke of York” has traditionally been bestowed on the second son of the monarch throughout British history, tracing as far back as 1474 under Edward IV. Elizabeth II’s father, George VI, was also Duke of York before ascending the throne.
In 2015, American woman Virginia Giuffre accused Prince Andrew of repeatedly sexually assaulting her as a minor while being trafficked by Epstein. This April, Giuffre was found dead in her home in Australia at the age of 41.
Additionally, one of Andrew’s Chinese friends and business partners, Yang Tengbo, was accused last year of allegedly engaging in espionage activities for China.