Prince Andrew has given up his royal titles, including Duke of York, following a discussion with King Charles III, Buckingham Palace announced. The decision comes amid mounting scandals surrounding the prince, including his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The palace statement confirmed that Andrew will no longer use the title 'His Royal Highness' in any official capacity. However, he retains the Duke of York title in a personal, non-royal sense, and continues to live at Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Royal observers suggest the move was pushed by the palace to distance the monarchy from Andrew's controversies. The prince had previously stepped back from public duties in 2019 over his Epstein links, but this latest step marks a further removal from royal life.
Andrew's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, are not affected by the change and retain their royal titles. The Duke of York title is expected to remain unused until it can be reassigned to a future royal.
