In a stunning development that marks one of the most dramatic falls from grace in modern royal history, Prince Andrew has been stripped of all his military affiliations and royal patronages with immediate effect.
The Duke of York will also no longer use his cherished HRH style in any official capacity as he prepares to face a civil sexual assault case in the United States as a "private citizen".
Palace Statement Confirms Complete Removal
Buckingham Palace released an extraordinary statement confirming the seismic decision, stating: "With The Queen's approval and agreement, the Duke of York's military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen."
The palace further clarified that Prince Andrew will continue to defend the civil case filed by Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with the prince when she was 17 - allegations he has consistently and vehemently denied.
Military Roles Returned to the Crown
The decision means the Queen's second son loses all eight of his British honorary military titles, including:
- Colonel of the Grenadier Guards
- Honorary air commodore of RAF Lossiemouth
- Commander of the Royal Navy
- And five other senior military positions
More than 150 Royal Navy and Royal Air Force veterans had previously written to the Queen urging her to remove Andrew's military roles, arguing his position had become "untenable".
Royal Patronages Withdrawn
Additionally, the duke loses his involvement with numerous charitable organisations and sporting bodies he represented as royal patron, including:
- The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- Thames Rowing Club
- Various golf clubs and charitable foundations
What This Means for the Royal Family
This represents the most significant downgrading of a senior royal's status in living memory. The decision effectively removes Prince Andrew from any meaningful public role within the monarchy and signals the institution's determination to protect itself from the ongoing scandal.
The development comes just weeks before a key court hearing in New York that could see the case proceeding to trial later this year, unless a settlement is reached between the parties.
