**Prince Andrew Gives Up Duke of York Title Amid Renewed Epstein Scandal**
The United Kingdom’s Prince Andrew announced on Friday that he would relinquish the title of Duke of York, just days before the release of a posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre. Giuffre had accused the prince of raping her after she was trafficked by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Effective immediately, Prince Andrew will no longer sign off as the “Duke of York” or append “KG,” denoting Knight of the Garter, after his name. Other titles, including the honorific “His Royal Highness” (HRH), will also become inactive.
### Background on Virginia Giuffre and Allegations
Giuffre, who tragically died by suicide in April at age 41, had accused Andrew of forcing her to have sex on three occasions, including when she was underage. Though the disgraced prince has denied Giuffre’s claims, he paid millions of dollars to settle a civil sexual assault case with her in 2022.
Andrew was stripped of most of his titles and removed from royal duties in 2022 due to his ties with Epstein, who died by suicide in a U.S. prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Andrew’s decision to relinquish his titles comes amid renewed public scrutiny following new revelations about his connections to Epstein.
### Why Has Prince Andrew Given Up His Titles?
In a statement, Prince Andrew said, “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,” citing that the ongoing accusations “distracted” the royal family.
### What Does This Mean for Prince Andrew?
Although Andrew has lived a largely private life in recent years, he remains part of the royal family as the brother of King Charles III and uncle to Princes William and Harry. He will no longer use the titles Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh, both given to him on his wedding day.
The dukedom of York, which technically can only be removed by an act of Parliament, will remain his in name only, as he will not use it. Similarly, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York and Andrew’s ex-wife, will cease to use her title.
Their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their titles unaffected.
The couple will continue to reside in the 30-room Royal Lodge mansion in Windsor, a Grade II-listed property leased from the Crown Estate. Unlike his previous home, Sunninghill Park, which he sold in 2007, Andrew cannot sell Royal Lodge.
### Who Is Prince Andrew?
Prince Andrew, the second son and third child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, was once one of the most popular members of the British royal family. Born in 1960, he gained recognition for his Royal Navy service as a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War in 1982.
However, in recent years, Andrew has largely withdrawn from public life amid scandals and intense scrutiny over his relationship with Epstein. He stepped down from royal duties in 2019 after his ties to Epstein came under fire.
In 2022, Andrew was stripped of military titles and royal patronages following a U.S. court allowing a civil sexual abuse case against him to proceed. He was also relieved of his role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards by the Queen.
Though other titles are rendered dormant, Andrew retains the title “prince” by birthright, a title that cannot be stripped.
### The Allegations Against Prince Andrew
In 2021, Virginia Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit accusing Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her multiple times, including when she was 17 years old, a minor under U.S. law. She alleged she was trafficked by Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, forced to have sex with Andrew in London, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Prince Andrew has vehemently denied all allegations, even claiming that a widely circulated photograph of them together was doctored.
The case was settled out of court in early 2022, with Andrew reportedly paying around £12 million ($16 million). The settlement sparked public outrage, with questions raised about whether UK taxpayers’ money was used.
In April 2023, Giuffre died by suicide at her home near Perth, Australia. Her family attributed her death to the ongoing emotional toll of her past abuse.
Last week, the U.S. House Oversight Committee released documents from Epstein’s estate showing Prince Andrew listed as a passenger on Epstein’s private jet, the “Lolita Express,” on a flight from Luton to Edinburgh in 2006.
### Insights from Giuffre’s Posthumous Memoir
Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, *Nobody’s Girl*, went on sale this Tuesday, detailing her experiences with Prince Andrew and Epstein.
In excerpts published by several media outlets, Giuffre writes that Andrew believed sex with her was his “birthright.”
She recounts a meeting in London where Maxwell and Epstein left her alone to “take care of the prince.” Giuffre describes Andrew as “friendly enough, but still entitled,” and said he seemed rushed to have intercourse, which lasted less than half an hour. Afterward, Andrew thanked her in a “clipped British accent.”
Giuffre also reveals Epstein paid her $15,000 for “servicing” Andrew, whom tabloids nicknamed “Randy Andy.”
Her family has welcomed Andrew’s decision to give up his titles as “vindication for Virginia.” They also called for King Charles to strip Andrew of the royal title “Prince.”
### Prince Andrew’s Ties to Jeffrey Epstein
Prince Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein—a convicted child sex offender and financier—began in the 1990s. Andrew socialized with Epstein in elite circles in both the UK and the U.S.
Reports indicate Andrew stayed at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse, visited his private Caribbean island, and flew multiple times on Epstein’s private jet. Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, facilitated Andrew’s introductions to other prominent figures.
In a notorious 2019 BBC interview, Andrew claimed he ended his friendship with Epstein in December 2010. However, new documents reveal an email Andrew sent Epstein three months later that stated, “we are in this together,” after they were photographed together in New York.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to solicitation of prostitution charges involving a minor and served 13 months in prison. He died in a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges—his death was ruled a suicide.
### Other Controversies Surrounding Prince Andrew
Beyond his ties to Epstein, Andrew has been involved in other scandals. For instance, one of his close confidants was banned from the UK over allegations of spying for China.
Andrew reportedly held meetings in 2018 and 2019 with Cai Qi, a member of China’s ruling political bureau, who was suspected by the UK government of being involved in espionage activities through two British nationals accused of spying for Beijing.
—
Prince Andrew’s relinquishment of his dukedom represents a significant moment for the British Royal Family, indicating ongoing efforts to distance itself from scandals and controversies that have plagued it in recent years.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/19/why-uks-prince-andrew-lost-his-royal-title?traffic_source=rss