The Reasons the Duke of York Has Relinquished His Royal Titles – and What It Means for the Royal Family
In a statement released via the royal household, the king's brother has declared he is relinquishing his royal titles, such as his dukedom. Below are the details of what was revealed – and what remains unchanged.
What Did Andrew Said?
After previously withdrawn as a working royal in 2019, Andrew has now decided to “take additional measures” and agree not to use the “honor or the honours which have been granted to” him.
But he also used the statement to make a point of rejecting – consistent with his past statements – the allegations of sexual impropriety leveled at him; albeit after settling millions to settle the civil sexual assault case brought by Virginia Giuffre – a settlement in which he admitted no liability and firmly denied all allegations of improper conduct.
There has existed ongoing scrutiny toward the royal institution regarding the claims against Andrew – especially since his ill-fated television appearance with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He now claims that his actions are to safeguard his relatives from further damage caused by public speculation.
Did the Monarch Stripped Him of His Honors?
No. And although this could be dismissed as a simple procedure, it holds importance in multiple ways: initially, it allows Andrew to publicly claim to have acted honourably in support of the monarchy. As stated in his announcement: “I have decided, as I always have, to prioritize my obligations to my family and country first.”
Second, while he has agreed not to use it, Andrew retains his ducal title, as well as the titles the Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh and the esteemed position as Royal Knight Companion of the prestigious order. Similar to the royal style title, they are effectively dormant.
He continues to be a prince and eighth in the line of succession. In theory, he remains a potential stand-in for the monarch – and can stand in for the king if he is abroad or ill. Although the palace has indicated that, in practice, he will not be called upon to fulfil this role.
Nonetheless, it is telling that the prince's announcement said the decision was made “in discussion with the monarch”. There seems little doubt that, behind the scenes, the palace advocated for the move in the hope of cutting Andrew loose.
Why Was He Not Formally Stripped of All of His Titles?
To forcibly remove a dukedom would take an act of parliament, and would represent an unprecedented step publicly before the public – it has not occurred to a high-ranking royal in more than 100 years – that it would likely result in further reputational damage for the royals.
The prince remains still a prince. At his birth in 1960, he was automatically such as the son of a monarch. This would only be altered if a letters patent was enacted by the reigning monarch.
The whole process could end up being protracted, implying the objective of quickly addressing the issue – at least for the royal family’s purposes – may not be achieved.
What Does It Mean for Andrew?
Embarrassment, likely above all. The statement signifies an effective loss of status he has fought against for a long time.
He and his ex-wife, Sarah, still live in their Windsor residence, notwithstanding rumoured attempts by the king to persuade Andrew to relocate of the thirty-room royal residence in the Windsor estate.
While little light has been revealed about exactly how much money Andrew has received due to his position, he remains a person of means. In 2007, he managed to secure £15m by selling a home that had been a wedding present from the queen, as an instance.
What Prompted This?
The seemingly endless series of controversies related to the prince has become intolerable for the monarch and other high-ranking family members.
His friendship with the convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein is once again under scrutiny after it emerged Andrew had told 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 a suspected intelligence operative and, recently, extracts were published from the book released after death of Giuffre, who took her own life in April. She claimed Andrew “thought that having sex with me was his birthright”.
Moreover, the sovereign is scheduled to undertake a significant trip to see the pontiff soon, when he will become the initial British king since Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church in 1534 to worship openly with the pope and leader of Catholicism. He will not have wanted that visit to be overshadowed by more negative headlines about his brother.
What Has Been the Response?
While he said his sister had been “justified” by the move, her sibling Sky Roberts informed a newspaper that Andrew’s honorary prince title should be revoked for “true justice” to be done.
The anti-monarchist campaign group Republic has additionally stated the move is “insufficient and delayed”, adding: “The prince continues to be accused of sexual offences and misuse of position. He ought to be stripped of every honor and his navy rank and should face a legal probe. Not using archaic honors is not a penalty that matches the accusations.”
