Prince Andrew has had his royal titles removed from the official Buckingham Palace website following his decision to relinquish them on Friday. This swift action by the Palace comes after a string of controversies involving Andrew, including allegations of sexual assault, his association with a convicted sex offender, and his involvement in a high-profile espionage case linked to China.
Prince Andrew’s older brother, King Charles, had been hesitant to address the issues surrounding Andrew. However, the tipping point came with the revelation of an email exchange between Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein in 2011, contradicting Andrew’s previous claims of cutting ties with Epstein in 2010.
The email allegedly showed Andrew reassuring Epstein and expressing a desire to continue their association. This revelation led King Charles to inform Andrew that his role as a senior royal was over, signaling the end of his official duties.
Following discussions with his family, including Prince William, Andrew agreed to renounce his titles, except for the prince title. In a statement, he cited the distractions caused by ongoing accusations and indicated his decision to step back from using the titles and honors bestowed upon him.
Despite Andrew’s assertion that he voluntarily gave up his titles, experts view his statement as an attempt to salvage some control over the situation. Losing the Duke of York title and the privileges associated with it is seen as a significant blow to his pride.
While Andrew retains his prince title by birthright, the loss of other titles and privileges has already limited his public role since his controversial interview in 2019. Calls are mounting for him to be stripped of his prince title, a decision that could be made by the government through Letters Patent issued by the King.
Government officials, including Ed Milliband, have emphasized the importance of allowing the royal family to make decisions regarding Andrew’s titles and public role, while expressing sympathy for the individuals affected by the scandal.