Prince Andrew, 65, has officially given up his “Duke of York” title after growing pressure from King Charles III and growing criticism over his ties with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Prince Andrew announced in a statement released by Buckingham Palace, “I will no longer use my title or the honors which have been conferred upon me.” Moreover, he added that his decision followed discussion with King Charles and was made to put my duty to my family and the country first.
Prince Andrew will remain a prince. However, he will no longer hold the Duke of York title, which was a title granted by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1986. Moreover, the UK media also reported that he will also give up his membership in the prestigious Order of the Garter. However, it is the oldest and most senior Knighthood system, dating back to 1348.
A Fall from Grace: The Epstein Connection
The decision comes after years of public scrutiny of the association of Prince Andrew with Jeffrey Epstein. However, she was convicted of sex offenses and died in jail in 2019. Moreover, Virginia Giuffre, an American woman, accused the prince of sexually assaulting her when she was 17 at locations linked to Epstein.
On top of that, Giuffre alleges that Andrew had sex with her on three occasions, including in London, New York, and Epstein’s private Caribbean island. However, he settled the US civil lawsuit filed by Giuffre with a multimillion-dollar out-of-court payment in 2022, while continuing to deny all allegations of wrongdoing.
The scandal intensified after Giuffre’s posthumous record, “Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice.” It revealed that Andrew behaves as if having sex with her were his birthright.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told the BBC, “He has dishonored his titles, he is in disgrace. The monarchy simply had to put a stop to it.”
Timeline of Prince Andrew’s Downfall
- 1960: Born as the second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
- 1979: Joined the Royal Navy, later serving as a helicopter pilot in the 1982 Falklands War.
- 1986: Married Sarah Ferguson and was granted the title Duke of York.
- 1992: Separated from Ferguson; finalized divorce in 1996.
- 1999: Met Jeffrey Epstein through Ghislaine Maxwell.
- 2010: Reconnected with Epstein after his prison release — a move that drew intense criticism.
- 2019: Withdrew from public duties after a disastrous BBC interview, where he denied allegations and claimed he “could not sweat.”
- 2022: Stripped of military titles and royal patronages by the Queen after a U.S. court dismissed his effort to block Giuffre’s lawsuit.
- 2025: Officially relinquishes his Duke of York title, with approval from King Charles and Prince William.
Reaction from the Royal Family and Public
Prince Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will no longer be known as the Duchess of York. However, their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will continue to hold their titles.
Buckingham Palace insiders say the decision was made in consultation with the King and Prince of Wales. Hence, it marks a collective effort to save the reputation of the monarchy. York City councillor Darryl Smalley stated, “It is obviously long overdue, but finally they recognized what a massive liability he is.
Virginia Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, reacted emotionally and said, “It brought mixed emotions, but that his late sister would be very proud. “ Robert further said, “Having him step down and be stripped of his titles is something long delayed, and it is very appropriate. Kudos to King Charles”.
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