Britain’s Prince Andrew has formally renounced his title of Duke of York and other royal honours following renewed controversy over his association with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In a statement on Friday, the 65-year-old prince said he would “no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me,” noting that the decision came after discussions with his brother, King Charles III, and other members of the royal family.
“I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first,” Andrew said, adding that while he continues to deny all allegations, “we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.”
Prince Andrew, who withdrew from public life in 2019, will remain a prince by birth as the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, but will no longer hold the title of Duke of York. His former wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also cease using the title of Duchess of York, though their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, retain their royal designations.
The announcement follows fresh allegations detailed in the newly released memoir of Virginia Giuffre, titled “Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice.” Giuffre, who has long accused Epstein of trafficking her for sex, alleged that she was abused by Andrew when she was under 18.
She wrote that Andrew acted as though having sex with her was his “birthright,” claiming to have been with him on three separate occasions, including one encounter in London in 2001, when she was 17.
Andrew has repeatedly denied Giuffre’s claims and avoided trial in 2022 by reaching a multimillion-dollar settlement.
His association with Epstein has severely damaged his public image and remains a source of deep embarrassment for the British royal family.
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