Why Prince Andrew is Giving Up His Royal Titles – and What It Means for the Royal Family
Through a statement released by Buckingham Palace, the king's brother has confirmed he is giving up his royal titles, including the Duke of York. Below are the details of what has been announced – and what wasn't.
What Has the Prince Said?
Having already stepped down as a working royal in 2019, the prince has currently decided to “take additional measures” and agree to refrain from using the “honor or the honours which have been conferred upon” him.
However, he employed the announcement to make a point of denying – as he has always done – the allegations of sexual impropriety made against him; albeit after settling a substantial sum to resolve the legal claim filed by Virginia Giuffre – an agreement in which he admitted no liability and strongly rejected any claims of wrongdoing.
There has existed ongoing scrutiny toward the royal institution regarding the claims involving the prince – especially since his disastrous television appearance with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He now claims he is acting to protect the royal family from additional harm resulting from public speculation.
Has the King Stripped Him of His Honors?
Not at all. And, while this might be viewed as a mere formality, it holds importance in two respects: initially, it allows Andrew to publicly claim to have acted honourably in defence of the crown. As stated in his statement: “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and the nation first.”
Additionally, while he has agreed to abstain from using it, the prince keeps the dukedom, along with the titles his earldom and his barony and the prestigious Garter role as a member of the Order of the Garter. Similar to the His Royal Highness title, they essentially become inactive.
He remains royalty and eighth in the line of succession. Theoretically, he is also a potential stand-in for the monarch – and may deputize for the sovereign if he is abroad or ill. Although the palace has indicated that, in practice, he will not be asked to fulfil this role.
Nonetheless, it is significant that Andrew’s statement said the decision was made “in discussion with the monarch”. There seems highly likely that, privately, the royal household pushed for this in the hope of cutting Andrew loose.
Why Was He Not Formally Stripped of All of His Titles?
To revoke a dukedom would take an act of parliament, and would represent an unprecedented step publicly before the nation – it has not happened to a high-ranking royal in more than 100 years – that it would likely cause more harm to the image for the monarchy.
Andrew is also a royal by birth. When he was born in 1960, he was automatically such as the child of the sovereign. This could only be altered if a royal decree was issued by the reigning monarch.
The entire procedure might ultimately being drawn-out, implying the goal of quickly addressing the matter – particularly for the royal family’s purposes – would not necessarily be achieved.
What Are the Implications for Andrew?
Humiliation, probably more than anything else. The announcement signifies an effective loss of standing he has fought against for a long time.
He and his ex-wife, Sarah, continue to reside in their Windsor residence, notwithstanding rumoured attempts by his brother to encourage his brother to relocate of the thirty-room Crown Estate property in Windsor Great Park.
While little light has been revealed about exactly how much funds the prince has obtained due to his position, he remains a person of means. In 2007, he managed to secure £15m from the sale of a property that had been a gift from his mother, for example.
Why Now?
The seemingly endless list of scandals involving Andrew has proved unacceptable for the king and other high-ranking family members.
His friendship with the jailed child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is once again in the headlines following revelations that the prince stated to him “we share this situation” in an email dispatched months after he claimed to have ended communication.
Additionally, there were stories about his association with an alleged intelligence operative and, recently, extracts appeared from the book released after death of Giuffre, who died by suicide in April. She alleged the prince “believed that having sex with me was his entitlement”.
Moreover, the king is scheduled to undertake a significant trip to see the pontiff next week, when he will become the first English monarch since Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church in 1534 to worship openly with the pope and head of the Catholic church. He would not desire that visit to be marred by further adverse coverage about Andrew.
What Was the Reaction?
While he said Giuffre had been “vindicated” by the move, her sibling Sky Roberts informed the Times that Andrew’s honorary prince title ought to be removed for “true justice” to be achieved.
The anti-monarchist advocacy organization Republic has also said the action is “too little, too late”, adding: “Andrew remains facing allegations of sexual offences and misuse of position. He should be divested of every honor and his military position and should face a criminal investigation. Not using archaic honors is not a punishment that fits the offences.”
