🔗 Share this article The Reasons the Duke of York Has Surrendered His Royal Titles – and What It Means for the Royal Family Through a announcement released by Buckingham Palace, Prince Andrew has confirmed he is relinquishing his royal titles, such as the Duke of York. Below are the details of what has been announced – and what remains unchanged. What Has Andrew Said? After previously stepped down as a active member of the monarchy in 2019, the prince has now decided to “go a step further” and consent not to use the “title or the awards which have been conferred upon” him. But he also used the statement to make a point of denying – as he has always done – the allegations of sexual impropriety made against him; albeit after settling millions to resolve the legal claim filed by Virginia Giuffre – an agreement in which he admitted no liability and strongly rejected all allegations of wrongdoing. There has existed ongoing scrutiny on the monarchy over the claims involving the prince – especially since his ill-fated Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He now claims that his actions are to protect his relatives from further damage caused by media scrutiny. Has the King Stripped Him of His Titles? No. And, while this could be dismissed as a mere formality, it holds importance in multiple ways: initially, it allows Andrew to publicly claim to have acted honourably in defence of the monarchy. As stated in his statement: “I have chosen, as I always have, to put my duty to my relatives and country first.” Additionally, although he consented not to use it, the prince keeps his ducal title, as well as the titles his earldom and his barony and the esteemed Garter role as Royal Knight Companion of the prestigious order. Similar to the royal style honorific, they essentially become inactive. He remains royalty and eighth in the line of succession. In theory, he is also a potential stand-in for the monarch – and can stand in for the sovereign if he is abroad or unwell. Although the palace has made clear that, in practice, he would not be called upon 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, privately, the palace pushed for the move in the hope of distancing the institution from Andrew. Why Was He Not Formally Stripped of His Entire Honors? To forcibly remove a dukedom would require an act of parliament, and would represent such a historic move publicly before the public – it has not occurred to a high-ranking royal in over a century – that it could result in further reputational damage for the monarchy. Andrew is also still a prince. When he was born in 1960, he became as the child of the sovereign. This would only be altered if a royal decree was enacted by the reigning monarch. The entire procedure might ultimately being drawn-out, meaning the goal of quickly addressing the issue – at least for the royal family’s purposes – may not be achieved. What Are the Implications for the Prince? Humiliation, probably more than anything else. The statement signifies an effective loss of status he has fought against for a long time. He and his ex-wife, Sarah, continue to reside in their Windsor residence, notwithstanding reported efforts by the king to encourage his brother to relocate of the thirty-room Crown Estate property in Windsor Great Park. While little light has been revealed about the precise amount of money Andrew has received due to his position, he remains a wealthy individual. Back in 2007, he managed to raise £15m by selling a home that had been a gift from the queen, for example. Why Now? The seemingly endless series of controversies related to the prince has become intolerable for the king and other senior royals. His association with the jailed child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is once again in the headlines after it emerged Andrew had told him “we share this situation” in an email dispatched months after he claimed to have ceased contact. Additionally, there were stories about his connections with a suspected Chinese spy and, recently, excerpts were published from the book released after death of Giuffre, who died by suicide in April. She alleged Andrew “thought 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 initial British king since Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church in 1534 to pray publicly with the pope and leader of Catholicism. He will not have wanted that trip to be overshadowed by more negative headlines about his brother. What Was the Response? Although he stated his sister had been “vindicated” by the decision, her sibling Sky Roberts has told a newspaper that the prince's style ought to be removed for “true justice” to be achieved. The republican advocacy organization Republic has also said the action is “insufficient and delayed”, noting: “The prince continues to be accused of sexual offences and misuse of position. He ought to be stripped of all titles and his navy rank and should face a legal probe. Refraining from using archaic honors is not a penalty that matches the accusations.”