The Reasons the Duke of York Has Relinquished His Royal Titles – and What It Means for the Royal Family
Through a announcement released by the royal household, the king's brother has confirmed he is relinquishing his official honors, including his dukedom. Below are the details of what has been revealed – and what remains unchanged.
What Has Andrew Announced?
Having already withdrawn as a working royal in 2019, the prince has now decided to “go a step further” and agree to refrain from using the “honor or the honours which have been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 leveled at him; albeit having paid out millions to settle the legal claim brought by Virginia Giuffre – a settlement in which he accepted no fault and firmly denied any claims of improper conduct.
There has been ongoing scrutiny on the monarchy regarding the claims against Andrew – particularly after his disastrous television appearance with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He now claims that his actions are to protect his relatives from additional harm caused by media scrutiny.
Did the Monarch Stripped Him of His Honors?
Not at all. And, while this could be dismissed as a mere formality, it is significant in multiple ways: initially, it enables the prince to publicly claim to have behaved with integrity in support of the monarchy. As he said in his statement: “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.”
Second, although he consented to abstain from using it, Andrew retains his ducal title, as well as the honors the Earl of Inverness and his barony and the esteemed Garter role as a member of the prestigious order. Similar to the royal style title, they essentially become inactive.
He remains a prince and eighth in succession to the throne. Theoretically, he is also a potential stand-in for the monarch – and may deputize for the sovereign if he is overseas or ill. However royal officials has indicated that, realistically, he will not be called upon to perform these duties.
Nonetheless, it is significant that the prince's announcement indicated the decision was made “in discussion with the king”. It appears highly likely that, privately, the palace advocated for this in the aim of cutting Andrew loose.
Why Was He Not Formally Stripped of His Entire Honors?
To forcibly remove a dukedom would require an act of parliament, and would represent an unprecedented step in full view of the nation – it has not occurred to a high-ranking royal in over a century – that it would likely result in further harm to the image for the royals.
Andrew is also a royal by birth. 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 entire procedure could end up being protracted, implying the objective of quickly addressing the issue – at least for the monarchy's interests – may not be met.
What Does It Mean for Andrew?
Humiliation, likely above all. The announcement signifies an effective loss of status he has fought against for a long time.
The prince and his former spouse, Sarah, continue to reside in their Windsor residence, notwithstanding rumoured attempts by his brother to encourage Andrew to move out of the thirty-room royal residence in the Windsor estate.
While little light has been revealed about the precise amount of money the prince has obtained as a result of his status, he continues to be a person of means. In 2007, he was able to raise £15m from the sale of a property that had been a gift from his mother, as an instance.
Why Now?
The continual list of scandals related to the prince has proved intolerable for the king 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 are in this together” in an email sent three months subsequent to his assertion to have ceased contact.
There have also been stories about his association with a suspected Chinese spy and, this week, excerpts were published from the posthumous memoir of Giuffre, who took her own life in April. She claimed Andrew “thought that having sex with me was his entitlement”.
Moreover, the sovereign is scheduled to undertake a significant trip to meet Pope Leo soon, during which he will be the initial British king after Henry the Eighth split with Rome in 1534 to worship openly with the pope and head of the Catholic church. He would not desire that trip to be marred by further adverse coverage about Andrew.
What Has Been the Reaction?
While he said Giuffre had been “vindicated” by the decision, Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts has told a newspaper that the prince's style should be revoked for “true justice” to be achieved.
The anti-monarchist campaign group Republic has additionally stated the action is “insufficient and delayed”, noting: “The prince continues to be facing allegations of sexual offences and abuse of office. He should be stripped of all titles and his navy rank and should face a criminal investigation. Not using archaic honors is not a penalty that matches the accusations.”
