Britain’s Prince Andrew has decided to stop using his Duke of York title as questions continue to grow over his past connections with convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move marks another major step back for the 65-year-old royal, whose public image has been damaged by a series of controversies over the years.
The decision was taken after discussions with senior members of the royal family and was agreed upon by King Charles, as per reports.
Sources within the palace said the King was satisfied with the outcome. Prince Andrew will, however, continue to hold the title of prince and will keep living at Royal Lodge within the Windsor Castle estate.
In his statement announcing the decision, Andrew said he wanted to prioritise his duty to his family and country. He also mentioned that continued public attention on the allegations against him had become a distraction from the official work of King Charles and the royal family.
Andrew, who once had a prominent role as a naval officer and trade ambassador, has gradually withdrawn from royal duties over the past decade. He first gave up his trade role in 2011 and completely stepped away from public life in 2019. In 2022, he was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages following allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has consistently denied.
The allegations against him resurfaced recently with the publication of the memoir of Virginia Giuffre, the woman who had filed a civil lawsuit against him in the United States. Andrew settled the case in 2022 without admitting any wrongdoing. The renewed focus on the case has once again drawn media attention to his past association with Epstein.
