A recent poll indicates that the majority of the public is in favor of Prince Andrew being formally stripped of his dukedom. Following the release of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, pressure has been mounting on Prince Andrew to relinquish his Royal Lodge mansion. Despite his recent decision to stop referring to himself as the ‘Duke of York,’ only an act of parliament can officially remove his title, a move supported by a significant portion of the British population.
According to a new YouGov survey of nearly 6,700 adults, 63% strongly support the formal removal of Prince Andrew’s dukedom, while 17% somewhat back the idea. Only 6% are opposed to it, with 14% expressing uncertainty on the matter.
While Prince Andrew has denied the accusations against him by Virginia Giuffre, details have emerged about his 75-year lease on the Royal Lodge. The lease, signed in 2003, involved a payment of £1 million with a nominal annual rent of “one peppercorn.” Additionally, he paid £7.5 million for refurbishments in 2005, with a clause in the agreement stating that the Crown Estate would compensate him around £558,000 if he surrendered the lease.
Legal experts, such as Ben Mayfield from Lancaster University, suggest that terminating the lease prematurely could pose challenges under English law. There are calls for MPs to investigate the Crown Estate’s handling of Andrew’s lease, emphasizing the need for transparency, especially when public funds are involved.
Despite Downing Street referencing a 2005 National Audit Office report that found no issues with the Royal Lodge arrangements, questions remain about the propriety of the transaction. The Public Accounts Committee is considering whether to further scrutinize the matter, highlighting the importance of accountability in dealings involving public figures and taxpayer money.