Prince Andrew Drops Royal Titles After Scandals
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Prince Andrew has formally relinquished his royal titles — including Duke of York — after discussions with King Charles and senior members of the royal family. Buckingham Palace confirmed the decision, which takes effect immediately, saying continued controversy surrounding the prince had become a distraction from the monarchy’s work.
The move follows years of scrutiny over Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein and allegations from Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse in 2001 — claims he has consistently denied. The prince previously stepped back from public duties in 2019 and was stripped of military titles before reaching an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in 2022.
Andrew will retain the title of “prince” as the late Queen Elizabeth II’s son and continue to reside at the Royal Lodge in Windsor. His ex-wife will now be known simply as Sarah Ferguson, though their daughters’ titles remain unchanged. The decision also comes amid reports linking Andrew to an alleged Chinese spy, further complicating his public image.
