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Prince Andrew announced Friday that he will no longer use his royal titles, including Duke of York, following discussions with King Charles and his family. The move marks the latest chapter in a series of controversies surrounding the prince and his ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
“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,” Prince Andrew said in a statement. “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life. 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. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
While he will remain a prince, Andrew will cease to be the Duke of York, a title bestowed on him by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. He will also give up his membership in the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in Britain.
His former wife, Sarah Ferguson, will no longer be known as the Duchess of York, though their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their titles.
The announcement comes after years of intense scrutiny over Andrew’s relationship with Epstein. In a 2019 BBC interview, Andrew stated he had severed all ties with Epstein in 2010. Later revelations, including emails suggesting continued private contact, intensified public criticism.
Royal commentator Jennie Bond said the palace had applied “enormous pressure” on Andrew, including from King Charles and Prince William. “We could say he has fallen on his sword, but I think he’s been pushed onto it,” Bond said, describing the decision as a relief for Buckingham Palace.
Historians note the significance of Andrew relinquishing his titles. Anthony Seldon, a contemporary historian, called it a “decisive moment” for the monarchy, the first removal of a dukedom from a senior royal in more than a century.
The decision elicited reactions from Epstein survivors. Haley Robson told BBC Newsnight that while the announcement brought a sense of accountability, it was bittersweet. She added that Virginia Giuffre, the late Epstein accuser who had settled with Andrew in 2022, “should be here to see all of what she started.” Giuffre’s brother Sky described the development as a “joyous moment” but cautioned that much work remains.
Constitutionally, Andrew retains the title of prince and remains eighth in line to the throne, though his role as a counsellor of state is inactive. Royal biographer Robert Hardman noted that while Andrew frames the move as voluntary, the decision reflects a broader palace effort to separate the prince from ongoing controversies.
With information from BBC.
