Prince Andrew has made a significant announcement, confirming his decision to relinquish all his royal titles, including the Duke of York, due to the ongoing allegations against him. This move comes in the wake of various controversies, such as his connections to Jeffrey Epstein and a Chinese intelligence operative. While he will no longer hold the title of Duke of York or be a member of the Order of the Garter, Prince Andrew will retain his status as a prince by birthright to Queen Elizabeth II. His former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, will also renounce her title and go by Sarah Ferguson exclusively.
In a concise statement released on Friday, Prince Andrew stated, “After discussions with The King and my immediate and extended family, we have concluded that the persistent accusations directed at me detract from the duties of His Majesty and the Royal Family. Therefore, I have chosen, as always, to prioritize my responsibilities to my family and country. I reaffirm my decision from five years ago to step back from public life. With the approval of His Majesty, we believe it is necessary for me to take a further step. Consequently, I will no longer use my titles or the honors bestowed upon me. I continue to vehemently deny the accusations made against me.”
This decision follows remarks from a royal insider suggesting that King Charles had reached a breaking point regarding the ongoing scandals involving Prince Andrew.
Amid intense scrutiny surrounding his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and an alleged Chinese spy, Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Epstein, accused Prince Andrew of sexually assaulting her on multiple occasions in 2001 when she was 17 and under Epstein’s control. She alleged the incidents occurred in London, New York, and on Epstein’s private island.
Prince Andrew has consistently refuted these allegations, claiming no recollection of meeting Giuffre and even casting doubt on the authenticity of a widely circulated photograph showing them together. In 2021, Giuffre filed a lawsuit against him under the US Child Victims Act, leading to an out-of-court settlement in 2022 reportedly amounting to £12 million without any admission of guilt.
The prince has also faced criticism for maintaining ties with Epstein post-conviction and a controversial BBC interview in 2019 defending their relationship. More recently, revelations emerged of Prince Andrew meeting with Cai Qi, a prominent Beijing official implicated in the Chinese espionage scandal.