The Reasons the Duke of York is Giving Up His Official Honors – and What It Means for the Royal Family
In a statement issued by the royal household, the king's brother has confirmed he is giving up his royal titles, such as his dukedom. Here are the details of what was revealed – and what wasn't.
What Has Andrew Announced?
After previously withdrawn as a working royal in 2019, Andrew has currently chosen to “go a step further” and consent not to use the “title or the honours which have been granted to” him.
But he also used the statement to make a point of denying – as he has always done – the allegations of misconduct leveled at him; albeit having paid out a substantial sum to resolve the civil sexual assault case brought by Virginia Giuffre – a settlement in which he accepted no fault and firmly denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
There has been persistent pressure on the monarchy over the claims involving the prince – especially since his ill-fated television appearance with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He presently states he is acting to safeguard the royal family from further damage resulting from public speculation.
Did the Monarch Removed Him of His Honors?
Not at all. And although this might be viewed as a mere formality, it is significant in multiple ways: first, it enables the prince to publicly claim to have behaved with integrity in defence of the crown. As stated in his announcement: “I have decided, as I always have, to prioritize my obligations to my relatives and the nation first.”
Second, while he has agreed not to use it, Andrew retains his ducal title, along with the titles his earldom and his barony and the esteemed position as a member of the prestigious order. Like the HRH royal style honorific, they essentially become inactive.
He continues to be a prince and eighth in succession to the throne. In theory, he remains still a counsellor of state – and may deputize for the sovereign should he be abroad or unwell. However royal officials has made clear that, in practice, he would not be asked to perform these duties.
Nevertheless, it is significant that the prince's announcement said this choice was made “in discussion with the king”. There seems little doubt that, behind the scenes, the royal household advocated for this in the hope of distancing the institution from Andrew.
Why Was He Not Been Officially Stripped of His Entire Honors?
To revoke a dukedom would require legislative action, and would represent such a historic move in full view of the nation – it has not happened to a high-ranking royal in over a century – that it could cause more reputational damage for the monarchy.
The prince remains a royal by birth. At his birth in 1960, he was automatically such as the son of a monarch. This could only be altered if a royal decree was enacted by the reigning monarch.
The entire procedure might ultimately being drawn-out, implying the objective of quickly addressing the matter – at least for the monarchy's interests – would not necessarily be met.
What Does It Mean for the Prince?
Embarrassment, likely above all. The announcement signifies an effective loss of standing he has resisted 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 Andrew to move out of the thirty-room Crown Estate property in the Windsor estate.
While little light has been revealed about the precise amount of money the prince has obtained due to his status, he remains a wealthy individual. In 2007, he was able to secure £15m by selling a property that had been a wedding present from the queen, for example.
What Prompted This?
The seemingly endless list of scandals related to the prince has become unacceptable for the king and other high-ranking family members.
His friendship with the jailed sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein has again under scrutiny following revelations Andrew had told him “we are in this together” in an email dispatched months subsequent to his assertion to have ceased contact.
There have also been stories about his connections with an alleged Chinese spy and, this week, excerpts were published from the posthumous memoir of Giuffre, who took her own life in April. She alleged the prince “thought that having sex with me was his birthright”.
Moreover, the sovereign is due to undertake a significant trip to meet Pope Leo soon, when he will become the first English monarch since Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church in 1534 to pray publicly with the Holy Father and head of the Catholic church. He will not have wanted that visit to be overshadowed by further adverse coverage about Andrew.
What Was the Response?
Although he stated 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 republican advocacy organization Republic has also said the move is “too little, too late”, noting: “The prince continues to be facing allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of office. He should be stripped of all titles and his navy rank and should undergo a criminal investigation. Not using silly medieval titles is not a punishment that matches the accusations.”
