Amid a civil sexual assault case, Prince Andrew has lost his honorary titles at Royal Portrush, Royal Belfast and Royal County Down golf clubs in Northern Ireland, according to a report by Belfast Live.
It’s part of a bigger move to strip him of his royal patronages by the Queen. Buckingham Palace has also announced that he has lost his honorary military roles.
A statement from the Palace said: “With the Queen’s approval and agreement, the Duke of York’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen. The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.”
This came on the heels of a ruling by a judge last Wednesday that Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit against Prince Andrew could proceed. Giuffre claims Andrew’s friend Jeffrey Epstein forced her to have sex with the royal three times when she was 17. Prince Andrew denies the allegations.
“There will be immense relief by members that this decision has been taken out of their hands,” a source close to the Royal Portrush and Royal County Down golf clubs told Belfast Live.
