King Charles is reportedly considering stripping Prince Andrew of his Duke of York title following a series of allegations, according to sources. Buckingham Palace is said to have reached a 'tipping point' over headlines linking the prince to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and a senior Chinese Communist party official suspected in a collapsed spy case.
The Guardian understands that the Prince of Wales is keen for his uncle to lose his titles before he inherits the throne, and the king recognises this as necessary to smooth his son's path. Removing the dukedom would require an act of parliament, but with royal backing could gain government and public support, the Times reported.
A royal source told the Times: 'It feels like we are reaching a tipping point,' citing concern within the royal household about reputational risk to the monarchy. Another option being considered is banishing Andrew from the Order of the Garter, which the Daily Mail reports the king is actively considering.
The developments follow the publication of extracts from the memoir of Andrew's accuser Virginia Giuffre, who died in April. Giuffre claimed the prince behaved as if he 'believed that having sex with me was his birthright'. Andrew has consistently denied the allegations and settled a civil case with her for £12m without admitting liability.
It has also been reported that Andrew held meetings in 2018 and 2019 with Cai Qi, a Chinese politburo member suspected of receiving sensitive information from two British nationals accused of spying. The case against the two men was recently dropped. Additionally, emails published by the Mail on Sunday suggested Andrew contacted Epstein later than he claimed in a Newsnight interview.
Buckingham Palace had hoped Andrew might voluntarily give up his titles. If not, the king is understood to be resolute in taking difficult steps to sanction his brother. Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, and the Duke of York's representatives have been approached for comment.
