Prince Andrew released a new statement on Friday as he announced he is giving up his royal title.
The statement came just hours after a report claimed that King Charles, 76, was considering “banishing” his younger brother from the Order of the Garter.
Andrew, 65, has been at the centre of much scandal over the last few years.
He has faced scrutiny over his association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew was accused of sexual assault, allegations he has always vehemently denied.
Following the announcement on Friday regarding his royal title, another damning report emerged this weekend. The Mail on Sunday claimed that the prince had asked his police protection officer to investigate his accuser Virginia Giuffre in 2011. This was reportedly just before the same newspaper published a photo of Ms Giuffre’s alleged first meeting with the prince in the early 2000s.
Prince Andrew statement on royal title
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace on Friday evening, Prince Andrew said: “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.
“I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.”
He added: “With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
According to reports, King Charles is said to be “glad” with the outcome.
Andrew remains a prince as he was born with this title as the second son of Queen Elizabeth II. However, he no longer holds the title of Duke of York, which he has held since 1986. Andrew has also given up membership of the Order of the Garter. He is no longer a Knight of the Garter, which he was honoured with in 2006.
Met Police statement
Following the news of Andrew’s title, reports emerged claiming Andrew had tried to obtain personal information about Ms Giuffre in 2011.
The Mail on Sunday claimed Andrew had told Ed Perkins, Queen Elizabeth II’s deputy press secretary at the time, that he had asked one of his personal protection officers – part of the Met’s elite SO14 Royalty Protection Group – to dig up information on Ms Giuffre.
He allegedly wrote in an email to Mr Perkins: “It would also seem she has a criminal record in the [United] States. I have given her DoB [date of birth] and social security number for investigation with XXX, the on duty ppo [personal protection officer].”
According to the publication, it is not suggested that the officer complied with Prince Andrew’s request. Meanwhile, Ms Giuffre’s family has said she did not have a criminal record.
In addition, the Met Police has said in a statement: “We are aware of media reporting and are actively looking into the claims made.”
Prince Andrew hasn’t commented on the reports, but has consistently denied all allegations against him. Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.
Royal scandal
In January 2022, Prince Andrew was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages. The decision came as he faced a US lawsuit over sexual assault allegations.
In 2021, Ms Giuffre filed a lawsuit against the royal in the US, accusing him of sexual assault. She alleged that she was made to sleep with Prince Andrew on three occasions when she was 17 after being trafficked by Epstein.
Andrew has repeatedly denied the allegations.
I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.
In February 2022, the prince and Ms Giuffre reached an out-of-court settlement. Prince Andrew paid Ms Giuffre an undisclosed sum. However, Andrew made it clear, by doing so, he did not accept any liability.
In the years since, Prince Andrew has found himself increasingly sidelined in the royal family. He rarely attends public events, only being seen at some private royal occasions.
On Friday, according to the Daily Mail, there were “top-level discussions under way” at Buckingham Palace over Andrew.
It came amid fresh allegations emerging from Ms Giuffre’s upcoming posthumous memoir, which she wrote before her tragic death. She took her own life in April at the age of 41.
The memoir will reportedly detail the alleged occasions with the royal.
Prince Andrew’s Epstein scandal
Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019 following his BBC Newsnight interview, where he addressed his friendship with Epstein and the allegations of sexual assault against him.
Andrew hasn’t returned to royal duties since.
In August 2024, he was described as “a little bit reclusive,” amid reports of tension with King Charles over his continued residence at Royal Lodge, a grand property in Windsor that Andrew has refused to vacate.
Prince Andrew’s ‘links’ to Chinese spy
Meanwhile, the Epstein saga is far from the only controversy haunting the royal.
Earlier this year, he was linked to a British intelligence investigation involving a suspected Chinese spy, known initially only as “H6”.
Meanwhile, the individual was later identified as Yang Tengbo, a businessman who voluntarily lifted his anonymity and denied all wrongdoing, calling espionage claims “entirely untrue”.
In response, Prince Andrew’s office issued a statement confirming he had “ceased all contact” with Tengbo. They added that “nothing of a sensitive nature was ever discussed”.
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