Prince Andrew has released a new statement as he announced he is giving up his royal title.
The statement comes 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.
In July, it was claimed that Andrew had reportedly been sent a clear “reminder” by King Charles that his role within the royal family remains firmly restricted.
It came amid developments in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Andrew has faced scrutiny for many years over his association with the late convicted sex offender. He was accused of sexual assault, allegations he has vehemently denied.
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.
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, Virginia 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.
Then, in early 2022, he was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
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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