In a dramatic and humiliating turn, Prince Andrew has been stripped of his royal title as Duke of York, ending a long and controversial chapter tied to his association with the late convicted pedophile, Jeffrey Epstein. The decision, which comes after years of scrutiny, has shaken the royal family and marks the latest fallout from Andrew’s relationship with Epstein.
The 65-year-old prince issued a statement Friday, explaining that he had chosen to give up his titles to prevent his ongoing scandal from being a distraction to the work of King Charles and the monarchy. “In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family,” Prince Andrew said. “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.”
The decision to relinquish his titles comes as new, troubling revelations have emerged in the posthumous memoir of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who has long accused Prince Andrew of sexual abuse. Giuffre, who alleges that Epstein trafficked her to the prince when she was just 17, published excerpts from her memoir this week, detailing disturbing accounts of their alleged encounters. In the book Nobody’s Girl, Giuffre claims she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew at the home of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend. She described his behavior as “entitled” and said he acted as if it was his “birthright” to engage in the act.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Prince Andrew continues to deny the accusations, maintaining that he never sexually abused Giuffre. "As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me," he reiterated in his statement.
The memoir's explosive details add to the mounting embarrassment for the royal family, with the allegations putting the monarchy’s reputation at significant risk. The release of these excerpts has only deepened the scandal that has surrounded the prince for years, particularly after his disastrous 2019 BBC interview where he attempted to explain his ties to Epstein.
Even though he has given up his Duke of York title, Prince Andrew will remain in his 31-bedroom Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle until at least 2078, thanks to a tenancy agreement. He will also retain his position as the eighth in line to the throne and keep the title "Prince Andrew" due to his status as the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II. However, he will no longer use "His Royal Highness" and has surrendered all his royal patronages, meaning he can no longer lend his name to charities or other organizations.
Giuffre’s family has hailed Prince Andrew’s decision as a form of “vindication,” not just for Virginia but for all survivors of abuse. "We, the family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, believe that Prince Andrew’s decision to give up his titles is vindication for our sister and survivors everywhere," they said in a statement. They also called for King Charles to take further action and remove the title of "Prince" from Andrew entirely.
Prince Andrew had already stepped back from royal duties in 2019 following the fallout from the BBC interview. The scandal deepened in 2022 when he was stripped of his military titles while facing a civil lawsuit from Giuffre, which he settled out of court for a reported multi-million-dollar sum. The Epstein case, which was marred by years of legal missteps, continues to haunt those involved, with Epstein’s death by suicide in 2019 and Maxwell’s conviction for child sex trafficking in 2021 further complicating the matter.
Prince Andrew’s title removal is a historic moment, marking the first time a senior royal has had their dukedom taken away in over a century. The move is unlikely to end the public scrutiny of the prince, but it marks a significant shift in his relationship with the royal family and a clear attempt to distance the monarchy from the scandal.
