The Reasons Prince Andrew Has Relinquished His Royal Titles – and the Implications for the Royal Family
Through a announcement issued via the royal household, Prince Andrew has confirmed that he will be relinquishing his official honors, such as his dukedom. Below is an overview of what was announced – and what remains unchanged.
What Did the Prince Announced?
After previously stepped down as a active member of the monarchy in 2019, Andrew has currently chosen to “take additional measures” and consent to refrain from using the “title or the honours which have been granted to” him.
However, he used the statement to emphatically rejecting – as he has always done – the allegations of sexual impropriety made against him; albeit having paid out a substantial sum to resolve the civil sexual assault case brought by Virginia Giuffre – an agreement in which he admitted no liability and strongly rejected all allegations of wrongdoing.
There has existed persistent pressure on the monarchy over the allegations involving the prince – particularly after his ill-fated Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He presently states that his actions are to protect the royal family from additional harm caused by public speculation.
Has the King Stripped Him of His Titles?
Not at all. And although this might be viewed as a mere formality, it is significant in multiple ways: first, it allows Andrew to openly state to have behaved with integrity in defence of the crown. As stated in his statement: “I have chosen, as I always have, to prioritize my obligations to my relatives and country first.”
Second, although he consented to abstain from using it, Andrew retains his ducal title, as well as the titles his earldom and Baron Killyleagh and the esteemed Garter role as a member of the Order of the Garter. Similar to the royal style title, they essentially become inactive.
He continues to be royalty and eighth in the line of succession. In theory, he remains a potential stand-in for the monarch – and can stand in for the sovereign if he is overseas or unwell. However royal officials has made clear that, realistically, he will not be asked to fulfil this role.
Nonetheless, it is significant that the prince's announcement indicated this choice was made “following talks with the monarch”. It appears highly likely that, privately, the royal household advocated for this in the hope of cutting Andrew loose.
Why Hasn’t He Been Officially Stripped of All of His Titles?
To forcibly remove a dukedom would require an act of parliament, and would constitute an unprecedented step publicly before the nation – it has not happened to a high-ranking royal in over a century – that it could result in further 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 son of a monarch. This would 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 swiftly resolving the matter – particularly for the royal family’s purposes – may not be achieved.
What Does It Mean for the Prince?
Embarrassment, probably more than anything else. The statement signifies an effective loss of standing he has fought against for years.
He and his ex-wife, Sarah, still live in Royal Lodge, notwithstanding reported efforts by the king to persuade his brother to move out of the thirty-room royal residence in the Windsor estate.
While little light has been shed on exactly how much money Andrew has received due to his status, he continues to be a person of means. Back in 2007, he was able to secure £15m from the sale of a property that had been a gift from his mother, as an instance.
Why Now?
The seemingly endless list of scandals related to the prince has proved intolerable for the king and other senior royals.
His association with the convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein has again under scrutiny after it emerged that the prince stated to him “we are in this together” in an email dispatched months after he claimed to have ended communication.
There have also been reports about his association with a suspected Chinese spy and, recently, excerpts appeared from the posthumous memoir of Giuffre, who took her own life in April. She claimed the prince “believed that having sex with me was his birthright”.
Moreover, the king is scheduled to make a historic visit to see the pontiff soon, during which he will be the first English monarch since Henry VIII split with Rome in 1534 to pray publicly with the pope and head of the Catholic church. He will not have wanted that trip to be marred by more negative headlines about his brother.
What Was the Reaction?
While he said Giuffre had been “justified” by the decision, Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts informed a newspaper that Andrew’s honorary prince title ought to be removed for “true justice” to be achieved.
The anti-monarchist advocacy organization Republic has additionally stated the action is “insufficient and delayed”, adding: “Andrew remains accused of sexual misconduct and abuse of office. He should be divested of all titles and his military position and should face a criminal investigation. Not using archaic honors is not a penalty that matches the accusations.”
