The United Kingdom’s Prince Andrew has officially relinquished his royal title and honours following continued public backlash over his alleged ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The announcement, confirmed by Buckingham Palace on Friday, marks another major fall from grace for the King’s younger brother, who has faced years of scrutiny.
According to the palace statement, the decision was reached after discussions between Prince Andrew and King Charles III. The statement read, “In discussion with The King and my family, we have agreed that the continued accusations against me have become a distraction to His Majesty’s work. Therefore, with His Majesty’s approval, I will no longer use my royal title or any of the honours conferred upon me.”
The 65-year-old prince also reiterated his innocence, insisting that the allegations against him remain unproven. “As I have stated before, I strongly deny all accusations and continue to cooperate fully with the authorities,” he said. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will no longer be referred to as the Duchess of York, though their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their royal titles.
Reports suggest the decision came after renewed public attention surrounding the late Virginia Giuffre, who had accused Prince Andrew of sexual misconduct when she was a teenager. Giuffre, whose upcoming memoir reignited the controversy, tragically passed away earlier this year. The situation has once again drawn international attention to the prince’s past relationship with Epstein.
In 2019, Prince Andrew stepped down from royal duties after his BBC interview sparked widespread criticism. Three years later, in 2022, he was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages, though he retained his ducal title until now. Palace sources say this final step is intended to protect the image of the monarchy and allow the Royal Family to move forward.
Buckingham Palace has not indicated whether Prince Andrew will maintain any official roles or privileges within the royal household. The King is said to have expressed hope that the decision will help the monarchy focus on rebuilding public trust.
