Prince Andrew has agreed to stop using the Duke of York title and his royal honours, following discussions with King Charles and other family members, Buckingham Palace announced. In a statement, Andrew said the continued accusations against him distracted from the work of the monarchy, and he decided to put his duty first. He will no longer use the title or the honours of Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and Royal Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter, leaving only his title as prince, which cannot be removed.
The decision was made after high-level meetings at the palace, with aides reportedly reaching a 'tipping point' over the reputational risk to the monarchy. The king is understood to be pleased with the outcome, and the Prince of Wales was also consulted. Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, will also stop using her title, while the titles of their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, remain unaffected.
Technically, Andrew retains the dukedom, which can only be removed by an act of parliament, but he will not use it. The title remains extant but inactive, similar to the HRH honorific. Andrew has vigorously denied the allegations against him, which relate to his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and accusations of sexual assault by Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in April.
Giuffre's family welcomed the decision, calling it 'vindication for Virginia' and suggesting that King Charles should also remove Andrew's title of prince. The allegations have been a persistent distraction for the royal family, with recent reports also linking Andrew to meetings with a Chinese official involved in a spying case.
