Prince Andrew has relinquished his title as Duke of York and other royal honors amid renewed scrutiny over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move marks another steep fall from grace for the 65-year-old royal, who stepped back from public duties in 2019 but has continued to face lingering allegations.
In a statement released Friday by Buckingham Palace, Andrew said:
“The continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family. With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me.”
Andrew reiterated that he “vigorously” denies all allegations against him.
The announcement comes just days before the publication of a posthumous memoir by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was 17 after being trafficked by Epstein. Giuffre died by suicide earlier this year at 41. Her memoir reportedly contains detailed accounts of encounters with Andrew, who has denied the claims and settled a civil lawsuit with her in 2022 for an undisclosed sum.
Andrew’s reputation was severely damaged by his 2019 BBC interview, during which his attempts to refute Giuffre’s allegations were widely mocked — including his claim that he was medically incapable of sweating. The fallout from the interview led to his swift withdrawal from royal duties.
Along with giving up the Duke of York title, Andrew will relinquish several honors, including Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and Royal Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter. He will remain a prince by birthright. His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson will no longer use the title Duchess of York, though their daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, retain their titles.
Once considered the royal family’s “golden boy,” Andrew enjoyed celebrity status in the 1980s, serving as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot during the Falklands War and moving in glamorous social circles. But in recent years, his financial entanglements and associations with controversial figures, including a suspected Chinese spy, have intensified questions about his judgment and private dealings.
Andrew’s decision to step back further is seen as a move to shield King Charles III and the monarchy from ongoing scandal, but it underscores the enduring shadow Epstein’s network continues to cast over the British royal family.