The Reasons Prince Andrew Has Relinquished His Royal Titles – and What It Means for the Monarchy
Through a announcement issued by the royal household, Prince Andrew has declared he is relinquishing his official honors, including the Duke of York. Here are the details of what was revealed – and what remains unchanged.
What Has the Prince Announced?
After previously withdrawn as a active member of the monarchy in 2019, Andrew has currently chosen to “go a step further” and agree not to use the “honor or the honours which have been conferred upon” him.
But he also used the statement to emphatically rejecting – as he has always done – the accusations of sexual impropriety leveled at him; albeit after settling a substantial sum to resolve the civil sexual assault case brought by Virginia Giuffre – an agreement in which he admitted no liability and strongly rejected any claims of wrongdoing.
There has been persistent pressure on the monarchy regarding the allegations involving the prince – especially since his ill-fated television appearance with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He now claims he is acting to safeguard the royal family from further damage caused by public speculation.
Has the King Stripped Him of His Titles?
No. And although this might be viewed as a mere formality, it holds importance in multiple ways: first, it enables the prince to openly state to have behaved with integrity in defence of the monarchy. As stated in his announcement: “I have decided, consistent with my past, to put my duty to my relatives and country first.”
Additionally, while he has agreed not to use it, the prince keeps the dukedom, as well as the titles his earldom and his barony and the esteemed Garter role as Royal Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter. Like the HRH royal style title, they essentially become inactive.
He continues to be royalty and eighth in the line of succession. Theoretically, he is also a potential stand-in for the monarch – and can stand in for the king should he be abroad or unwell. However the palace has made clear that, in practice, he would not be asked to perform these duties.
Nevertheless, it is telling that Andrew’s statement indicated this choice was made “in discussion with the monarch”. It appears highly likely that, privately, the palace advocated for the move in the hope of cutting Andrew loose.
Why Was He Not Formally Stripped of All of His Titles?
To revoke a ducal title would take legislative action, and would represent an unprecedented step in full view of the nation – it has not happened to a high-ranking royal in more than 100 years – that it would likely result in further reputational damage for the monarchy.
Andrew is also a royal by birth. At his birth in 1960, he was automatically such as the son of a monarch. This would only be changed if a letters patent was enacted by the reigning monarch.
The entire procedure might ultimately being drawn-out, implying the objective of swiftly resolving the matter – at least for the royal family’s purposes – may not be met.
What Does It Mean for Andrew?
Embarrassment, likely above all. The announcement signifies an effective loss of standing he has resisted for years.
The prince and his former spouse, Sarah, continue to reside in their Windsor residence, notwithstanding reported efforts by the king to encourage his brother to move out of the thirty-room Crown Estate property in the Windsor estate.
While little light has been revealed about the precise amount of funds Andrew has received due to his position, he continues to be a wealthy individual. Back in 2007, he was able to secure £15m from the sale of a home that had been a gift from his mother, for example.
Why Now?
The seemingly endless series of controversies involving Andrew has proved unacceptable for the king and other senior royals.
His association with the convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein is once again under scrutiny after it emerged Andrew had told him “we share this situation” in a message sent three months subsequent to his assertion to have ended communication.
Additionally, there were reports about his association with an alleged intelligence operative and, this week, extracts were published from the posthumous memoir of Giuffre, who died by suicide in April. She claimed the prince “thought that having sex with me was his birthright”.
Furthermore, the king is scheduled to make a historic visit to see the pontiff next week, during which he will be the first English monarch since Henry VIII split with Rome in 1534 to worship openly with the Holy Father and head of the Catholic church. He will not have wanted that visit to be overshadowed by more negative headlines about his brother.
What Was the Reaction?
Although he stated Giuffre had been “justified” by the move, Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts informed the Times that Andrew’s honorary prince title ought to be removed for “genuine accountability” to be achieved.
The anti-monarchist advocacy organization Republic has additionally stated the action is “too little, too late”, adding: “Andrew remains facing allegations of sexual misconduct and misuse of position. He should be stripped of every honor and his navy rank and should undergo a legal probe. Refraining from using silly medieval titles is not a penalty that matches the accusations.”
