Prince Andrew To Give Up Royal Title Following Jeffrey Epstein Scandal
In a formal statement, he said: “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.”
“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.”
“As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
According to Buckingham Palace, the Duke will no longer use any of his official titles or honors, including his association with the title Duke of York.
The decision comes as fallout continues from his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, which has long cast a shadow over his public life and the wider Royal Family.
He is also stepping away from his position as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and from his prestigious role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, which represents one of the highest honors in the British monarchy.
In addition to the changes concerning Andrew’s own titles, the BBC has reported that his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also stop using her former title of The Duchess of York. However, the couple’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will continue to hold their princess titles without alteration.
Giuffre, who was 41, died by suicide earlier this year at her home in Australia. Before her passing, she completed her memoir titled Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, which details her experiences and the years-long fight that followed.
“The next morning, Maxwell told me: ‘You did well. The prince had fun,'” Giuffre wrote, further alleging that Epstein later gave her $15,000 as payment.
