Prince Andrew gives up military affiliations, royal patronages and will no longer use HRH title

Prince Andrew has returned his military titles and royal patronages to Queen Elizabeth, as he prepares to face a civil sexual assault trial in the US.

A short statement was issued from Buckingham Palace on Thursday evening (Friday morning AEDT) announcing the news.

"With The Queen's approval and agreement, the Duke of York's military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to The Queen," it read.

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"The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen."

Royal sources have also revealed the Duke of York will no longer use the title His Royal Highness (HRH), according to commentator Victoria Murphy.

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It's understood the 61-year-old's patronages will be reassigned to other members of the royal family, similar to when Prince Harry and Meghan departed their senior roles.

The news was announced a day after Prince Andrew's lawyers failed to persuade a US judge to dismiss Virginia Giuffre's civil lawsuit against him which accuses the royal of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager. Prince Andrew denies the allegations against him.

Earlier on Thursday, more than 150 navy and army veterans wrote to the Queen asking her to strip Andrew of all his military ranks and titles amid continued legal trouble for the prince.

The campaign group Republic released the letter on Thursday from veterans angry that he still held honorary military roles.

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The anti-monarchy group called on the 95-year-old Queen to take immediate action because the Duke of York, had been "uncooperative and less than truthful" about his relationship with disgraced late US financier Jeffrey Epstein, and had brought the armed services he represented into disrepute.

"We are particularly upset and angry that Prince Andrew remains a member of the armed forces and continues to hold military titles, positions and ranks, including that of Vice Admiral of the Royal Navy," the letter said.

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"We are therefore asking that you take immediate steps to strip Prince Andrew of all his military ranks and titles and, if necessary, that he be dishonourably discharged."

Prince Andrew first stepped down from public duties in 2019 because of his connections to Epstein and in the wake of a disastrous BBC TV interview which he had hoped would clear his name, but instead led to ridicule and further questions.

- Reported with Reuters and Associated Press.