Prince Andrew to Relinquish Use of Royal Titles After Discussions with King Charles
London (CNN) — Prince Andrew announced on Friday that he will relinquish the use of his royal titles, including Duke of York, following discussions with King Charles. “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 in a statement released by Buckingham Palace.
A royal source told CNN that the change will take effect immediately.
Mounting Public Pressure and Denial of Accusations
Prince Andrew has faced mounting public pressure over his relationship with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, as well as his links to an alleged Chinese spy. The prince reiterated that he “vigorously” denies the accusations against him.
He stepped down from public life in 2019 following a widely criticized BBC interview concerning his friendship with Epstein. Epstein was a convicted pedophile who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial in the United States on federal charges of sexually abusing underage girls.
Further Step Back from Royal Duties
“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,” Andrew stated on Friday.
Discussions involved William, Prince of Wales, and other members of the royal family. As a result, Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, will now be known simply as “Sarah Ferguson.” The titles of their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will remain unaffected.
According to a royal source, Andrew will no longer attend any of the royal family’s Christmas celebrations. He will continue to reside at the Royal Lodge in Windsor under a private tenancy agreement.
Notably, Andrew will retain the title “prince” as he is the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Background: Legal Challenges and Allegations
Andrew’s public downfall began after he faced a 2015 sexual abuse lawsuit from Virginia Giuffre. Giuffre alleged that Epstein trafficked her and forced her to have sex with his associates in 2001, including Prince Andrew, and that the prince was aware she was underage at the time.
She also alleged that Andrew sexually abused her at Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands, his Manhattan mansion, and Ghislaine Maxwell’s home in London. Maxwell was convicted in late 2021 on sex trafficking and other charges.
As the lawsuit moved forward, Andrew was stripped of his military titles and positions on several charities. He has consistently denied Giuffre’s allegations. In 2022, the two parties reached an out-of-court settlement.
Giuffre’s Family Reaction and Legacy
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, described his sister as a “truth-teller from the beginning.” “We’ve shed a lot of happy and sad tears today. I think happy because in a lot of ways this vindicates Virginia,” he said.
Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025 at age 41. A posthumous memoir, described by her publisher as “unsparing,” is due for release next week.
Additional Controversies: Links to Alleged Chinese Spy
The decade-long friendship between Prince Andrew and Epstein ended in 2011, reportedly when Epstein threatened legal action against Andrew’s ex-wife.
Andrew has also been scrutinized for his ties to an alleged Chinese spy, Yang Tengbo. Court documents revealed that Yang forged close ties with the prince and was authorized to act on Andrew’s behalf during business meetings with potential Chinese investors in the UK.
In a tribunal hearing held in December 2024, which upheld a previous decision to bar Yang from the UK, it was disclosed that Yang wielded significant influence in these dealings. Throughout the government investigation, Yang has denied any wrongdoing.
— The-CNN-Wire™ ©
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