Prince Andrew announced on Friday (local time) that he would no longer use his royal titles, including Duke of York, following discussions with King Charles, according to an official statement.
Prince Andrew’s fall from public grace is largely related to a 2015 civil lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was a minor, CNN reports. Giuffre claimed she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and forced to have sex with many of his associates, including Prince Andrew, at locations in London, New York and the US Virgin Islands, the report said. Andrew “vehemently” denied the allegations.
In 2012, he settled the case with Giuffre out of court for an undisclosed sum, avoiding trial but causing considerable public backlash. During the trial, he was reportedly stripped of his military honors and lost roles in several charities.
What did Prince Andrew say?
“In discussion with the King and my immediate and extended family, we have come to the conclusion that the ongoing allegations that I am detracting from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family. I have decided, as always, to put my duty to family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to step back from public life,” Andrew said.
He added: “With His Majesty’s approval, we feel that I must now go a step further. I will therefore not continue to use my title or the honors that have been bestowed upon me. As I have said before, I strongly deny the allegations against me.”
According to CNN, citing sources, Prince William and other senior members of the royal family were consulted before the decision was made for Prince Andrew to relinquish his royal titles, including Duke of York.
Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, will now be known simply as ‘Sarah Ferguson’. However, their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their royal status, according to CNN.
A royal source also mentioned that Prince Andrew will no longer attend the royal family’s Christmas festivities. Although he has stepped back from royal roles and titles, he will continue to live at Royal Lodge in Windsor on a private lease. As the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, he will still hold the title “Prince”.
