Prince Andrew announces he's given up his Duke of York title and honours

Prince Andrew has announced that after consulting with King Charles he has given up his Duke of York title.

The move comes ahead of the posthumous release of Virginia Giuffre's memoir next week, which is speculated to include more accusations against the royal, all of which he denies.

"In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family," Andrew said in a statement released by Buckingham Palace on Friday evening (5am Saturday AEST).

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"I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.

"With His Majesty's agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me.

"As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me."

The decision to stop using his title and honours was made in consultation with not only the King but also the Prince of Wales and members of the wider royal family.

King Charles is believed to be glad about his 65-year-old brother's decision.

Prince Andrew's other titles that have been relinquished include his knighthoods - as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and a knight of the Order of the Garter.

It's understood the changes will impact Andrew's ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, who will continue to be known in a personal and professional capacity as Sarah Ferguson.

However, it's not expected to have any impact on the couple's daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

Relinquishing his dukedom won't impact Andrew's living arrangements, with the prince to remain at Royal Lodge in Windsor.

While the royal has given up all of his titles and honours voluntarily, there's one that can't be taken away from him, and that is the title of prince.

Once second in line for the British throne, Andrew was born in 1960 as a son of a monarch and as per the Letters Patent issued in 1917 by George V, was born a prince.

Prince Andrew first stepped back from his royal duties in 2019 following his car crash Newsnight interview about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Giuffre was a victim of Epstein's who said she was sex-trafficked by the businessman.

She claims in her book to have had sex with Prince Andrew on three occasions, saying the royal thought it was his "birthright". Prince Andrew has denied all allegations made by Giuffre.

After his Newsnight interview, Andrew was sued by Giuffre. Andrew has always denied Giuffre's allegations about him but settled the matter out of court in February 2022, reportedly for many millions of dollars.

The court case resulted in Andrew being stripped of remaining military titles, charity patronages and the title of His Royal Highness. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was the monarch at the time.

Andrew also ceased to be a Counsellor of the State as non-working royals are not included in the group of people who can act on the monarch's behalf in case they are incapacitated.

Giuffre took her own life in April, in Western Australia, where she was living with her husband and three children.

It's understood the announcement today by Buckingham Palace was made not only to get ahead of the release of Giuffre's memoir but also to avoid distracting from King Charles and Queen Camilla's historic visit to The Vatican next week.

Excerpts of Giuffre's Nobody's Girl: A Memoir Of Surviving Abuse And Fighting For Justice have been serialised in newspapers this week ahead of the book's full release and already brought the spotlight back on Prince Andrew's friendship with Epstein.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

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