Why Prince Andrew Has Surrendered His Royal Titles – and What It Means for the Royal Family
Through a announcement released via Buckingham Palace, Prince Andrew has confirmed he is giving up his royal titles, such as the Duke of York. Below is an overview of what has been announced – and what remains unchanged.
What Did the Prince Announced?
After previously withdrawn as a working royal in 2019, Andrew has currently chosen to “take additional measures” and consent not to use the “title or the honours which have been granted to” him.
But he also employed the announcement to emphatically denying – as he has always done – the allegations of sexual impropriety made against him; even though having paid out a substantial sum to settle the civil sexual assault case brought by Virginia Giuffre – an agreement in which he admitted no liability and firmly denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
There has been ongoing scrutiny on the monarchy regarding the claims against Andrew – especially since his disastrous Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He now claims he is acting to protect his relatives from further damage resulting from media scrutiny.
Did the Monarch Removed Him of His Honors?
Not at all. And, while this could be dismissed as a simple procedure, it is significant in multiple ways: initially, it enables the prince to publicly claim to have acted honourably in defence of the monarchy. As he said in his announcement: “I have chosen, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.”
Additionally, while he has agreed to abstain from using it, Andrew retains his ducal title, as well as the honors the Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh and the esteemed Garter role as a member of the Order of the Garter. Like the HRH His Royal Highness honorific, they essentially become dormant.
He remains a prince and eighth in the line of succession. In theory, he is also a potential stand-in for the monarch – and may deputize for the sovereign if he is abroad or ill. Although royal officials has indicated that, in practice, he will not be asked to fulfil this role.
Nonetheless, it is significant that Andrew’s statement said this choice was made “in discussion with the king”. There seems little doubt that, behind the scenes, the palace advocated for the move in the aim of cutting Andrew loose.
Why Hasn’t He Been Officially Stripped of His Entire Honors?
To revoke a ducal title would take legislative action, and would represent such a historic move in full view of the public – it has not occurred to a senior royal in over a century – that it could cause more harm to the image for the monarchy.
Andrew is also still a prince. When he was born in 1960, he became such as the child of the sovereign. This could only be changed if a royal decree was issued by the king.
The whole process could end up being drawn-out, meaning the goal of swiftly resolving the matter – particularly for the royal family’s purposes – may not be met.
What Does It Mean for Andrew?
Humiliation, probably more than anything else. The statement signifies an substantial reduction of standing he has fought against for years.
The prince and his former spouse, Sarah, still live in their Windsor residence, despite reported efforts by the king to encourage his brother to relocate of the thirty-room Crown Estate property in the Windsor estate.
While little light has been revealed about exactly how much funds Andrew has received due to his position, he remains a person of means. Back in 2007, he managed to raise £15m from the sale of a home that had been a gift from his mother, as an instance.
What Prompted This?
The seemingly endless list of scandals related to the prince has proved unacceptable for the monarch and other senior royals.
His friendship with the convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein has again in the headlines following revelations Andrew had told him “we share this situation” in a message dispatched months subsequent to his assertion to have ended communication.
Additionally, there were stories about his connections with a suspected intelligence operative and, recently, excerpts were published from the book released after death of Giuffre, who took her own life in April. She alleged the prince “thought that having sex with me was his entitlement”.
Furthermore, the sovereign is scheduled to undertake a significant trip to meet Pope Leo soon, when he will become the first English monarch after Henry the Eighth split with Rome in 1534 to worship openly with the Holy Father and leader of Catholicism. He will not have wanted that trip to be marred by more negative headlines about Andrew.
What Was the Response?
Although he stated Giuffre had been “vindicated” by the move, her sibling Sky Roberts has told a newspaper that the prince's style should be revoked for “genuine accountability” to be achieved.
The republican advocacy organization Republic has also said the move is “too little, too late”, noting: “Andrew remains facing allegations of sexual misconduct and misuse of position. He ought to be stripped of all titles and his navy rank and should undergo a legal probe. Not using silly medieval titles is not a punishment that fits the offences.”
