In a significant constitutional development, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is legally set to retain the Dukedom of York, despite being officially stripped of his prince title and HRH style. The Government has confirmed that revoking the dukedom would require an Act of Parliament, a process it currently deems unnecessary.
The Legal Standpoint on Royal Titles
This major update emerged from a written parliamentary question answered by Labour frontbencher Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent. Responding to Labour peer Viscount Stansgate, she clarified the Government's position. Following the Buckingham Palace statement on October 30, the entitlement to the title of 'Prince' and the style of 'Royal Highness' was removed by Letters Patent.
Critically, while the title of the Duke of York has been removed from the Roll of the Peerage and will no longer be used in official documents, this administrative action does not extinguish the peerage itself. The dukedom, granted to Andrew upon his marriage to Sarah Ferguson in July 1986, remains a legal entity that can only be fully revoked through a specific and separate Act of Parliament.
Context and Consequences of the Title Removal
The decision to strip Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his royal and military patronages was announced by Buckingham Palace earlier this month. This move came amid intense public and media scrutiny over his association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The controversy was further amplified by the sudden death of his accuser, Virginia Giuffre, in April.
As a direct consequence of these events, Andrew is also expected to relocate. He is set to move from the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park to the King’s private Sandringham estate at some point in the new year, marking a significant shift in his living arrangements and public role within the Royal Family.
What This Means for the Future
The Government's statement that "there is therefore no need for legislation" effectively draws a line under the immediate political process concerning his titles. This creates a unique situation where an individual holds a title that the Crown has directed not be used officially.
This episode highlights the complex and often archaic nature of British constitutional law and royal peerages, demonstrating how historical statutes can create modern-day political and legal nuances for the monarchy.
