In a statement dropped by Buckingham Palace on Friday night, Prince Andrew announced he’ll be giving up his royal titles and honours, effective immediately.
“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,” he said.
Andrew added that while he still “vigorously denies” all allegations made against him, it’s time to “go a step further” after stepping back from public life five years ago.
“I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me,” he said. “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.”
But not much really changes
While the Royal will no longer be called the Duke of York, he’ll still technically be a Prince — that bit can’t be taken away, thanks to the Letters Patent issued in 1917 by King George V.
He’ll also continue living at the lush Royal Lodge in Windsor, and his ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York (Sarah Ferguson) or his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will be mostly unaffected.
The announcement comes at an interesting time when just a few days ago extracts from Virginia Giuffre’s memoir were released.
Giuffre was a key figure in the campaign to bring Epstein to justice, and the memoir, which will be released posthumously next week, is speculated to include more accusations against the royal as she repeats her allegations of being forced to have sex with Prince Andrew as a minor in 2001, all of which Prince Andrew denies.
Let’s just say that with more eyes on him right now and in the next few weeks, Prince Andrew’s announcement has been a long time coming.
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