Prince Andrew has announced that he will no longer use his title, the Duke of York, after years of public criticism over his conduct and associations.
In a statement released on Friday, Prince Andrew said the continued allegations against him were creating distractions for King Charles and the British royal family. He added that his decision was made to put “duty to family and country first,” and confirmed that King Charles had agreed with the move.
Andrew said, “I have always put my duty to my family and country first. With His Majesty’s agreement, I will no longer use the title or honours that were given to me. I continue to strongly deny all accusations against me.”
According to royal insiders, the decision was reached after discussions with senior members of the royal family. The King reportedly supported the outcome and believed it was the right step to protect the institution’s reputation.
Prince Andrew, once celebrated for his service as a naval officer during the 1982 Falklands War, has faced a steady fall from grace. His friendship with the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein led to intense public scrutiny. In 2022, he was stripped of his military roles and royal patronages after being accused of sexual misconduct—claims he has repeatedly denied.
That same year, Andrew settled a lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of abusing her as a teenager. Her recent memoir has revived public interest in the case.
Recent polls suggest that most Britons support stripping Andrew of his remaining royal titles. A YouGov survey found 67% in favor, with only 5% holding a positive view of him.
Despite giving up his title, Andrew remains a prince and will continue to reside at the Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle. However, he will no longer attend annual royal gatherings at Sandringham.
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Historians note that it has been over a century since a senior royal has given up a dukedom, marking this as a rare and significant moment in British royal history.
