Prince Andrew has sensationally given up using all his titles and honours after he was engulfed in a sex abuse case involving notorious paedophile and financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The dramatic development in the long-running debacle comes just days before the publication of a memoir by Andrew's late alleged victim, Virginia Giuffre, to whom he paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case.
Andrew made the decision in close consultation with both the King and the Prince of Wales, with the monarch said to be "glad" at the outcome.
In a statement released on Friday night, Prince Andrew 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.
"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.”
Key Points
- King Charles forces disgraced prince Andrew to give up Duke of York title
- Timeline of all the royal's scandals through the years
- Virginia Giuffre's family celebrates as Andrew drops titles
- What has happened to Andrew’s dukedom and is he still a prince?
- How Prince Andrew’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein led to his downfall
Prince Andrew’s life is in ruins and he has only himself to blame
12:37 , James ReynoldsAndrew’s dealings with Jeffrey Epstein have done untold damage to countless lives – and the only surprise is that the former Duke of York’s demise has been so painfully slow, says Sean O'Grady:
Prince Andrew’s life is in ruins and he has only himself to blame
One scandal too many forces UK monarchy to sideline Prince Andrew
12:20 , James ReynoldsAfter emails emerged this week showing that Prince Andrew remained in contact with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein longer than he previously admitted, the House of Windsor finally moved to insulate the monarchy from years of tawdry headlines about Andrew's dodgy friends and suspicious business deals:
One scandal too many forces UK monarchy to sideline Prince Andrew
Andrew expected to stay at Royal Lodge
12:04 , James ReynoldsPrince Andrew is expected to stay at the Royal Lodge in Windsor after the decision to renounce his titles, the BBC reports.
Andrew has his own private lease on the house lasting until 2078.
What has Andrew given up?
11:32 , James ReynoldsPrince Andrew’s decision on Friday was to give up his Duke of York title.
The prince, 65, will also give up the other titles conferred on him, including his Scottish title and Northern Irish title - the Earl of Inverness and the Baron of Killyleagh, respectively.
Andrew gave up the title “His Royal Highness” in 2022. But he is still a prince, as the son of the late queen.
His military titles were also returned to the Queen in 2022.
In 2019, he gave up his public royal duties.
Titles of Prince Andrew’s daughters Beatrice and Eugenie remain unaffected
11:17 , James ReynoldsPrince Andrew’s daughters will remain in the royal fold after the move to give up his titles and honours.
The titles of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie remain unaffected.
Beatrice and Eugenie will be welcome to join the gathering at Sandringham for Christmas and other royal family events, it is understood.
Titles of Prince Andrew’s daughters Beatrice and Eugenie remain unaffected
Why now?
11:02 , James ReynoldsPrince Andrew’s decision to rescind his titles comes amid increased pressure over reports of his relationship with Epstein, and his reported relationship with an alleged Chinese spy.
Andrew only referred to “the continued accusations about me” and how they “distract” from the work of the Royals.
Excerpts from Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir have been published ahead of its release on Tuesday, and allege that Andrew met and had sex with Giuffre. Giuffre was allegedly told she “had to do for Andrew what I do for Jeffrey”.
It emerged on Sunday that Prince Andrew had told Epstein “we are in this together” in 2011, after a picture of the royal with Giuffre was first published.
The Duke of York also reportedly told his paedophile friend “we'll play some more soon” in the email dated 28 February 2011.
Andrew “vigorously” denies all wrongdoing.
Separately, Andrew was said to have met a senior CCP figure three times in London and Beijing, according to The Telegraph.
Virginia Giuffre's co-writer to appear on Newsnight on Monday
10:59 , James ReynoldsVirginia Giuffre’s co-writer, Amy Wallace, will appear on Newsnight on Monday evening, the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire said on X this morning.
I’ve read Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir which is published on Monday. It contains searing details of the sexual abuse & cruelty she suffered at the hands of Epstein and Maxwell, as well as details of the 3 times she says she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew (which…
— Victoria Derbyshire (@vicderbyshire) October 18, 2025
Andrew 'met China spymaster at least three times'
10:37 , James ReynoldsPrince Andrew met a senior Beijing official at the heart of the China spy scandal at least three times, according to reports.
The Duke of York held meetings in 2018 and 2019 with Cai Qi, currently the first-ranked member of the Secretariat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and de facto chief of staff to Xi Jinping.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped charges against suspected spies Christopher Berry and Christopher Cash last month, citing a lack of evidence; both have denied any wrongdoing.
Prince Andrew's statement in full
10:22 , James ReynoldsPrince Andrew published a statement on Friday saying that he was giving up his titles, and stressing he denies all accusations against him:
“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.
“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.”
Who was Virginia Giuffre?
10:07 , James ReynoldsVirginia Giuffre was born in 1983 in California and grew up in Loxahatchee, Florida.
At the age of seven, she says she was abused by a family friend. She was later in and out of foster care, living on the streets by 14.
In the year 2000, she met British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell while getting back on her feet, working as a locker room attendant at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
She said Maxwell offered her an interview to train as a massage therapist and claimed the socialite gave her instructions on how to massage Epstein at his home in Palm Beach while he was naked.
Giuffre claimed that the job interview soon turned into years of abuse, both from Epstein and his associates.
In 2001, aged 17, she says she met Prince Andrew in London and was told she “had to do for Andrew what I do for Jeffrey”. Andrew said in 2019 he had no recollection of meeting Giuffre.
Giuffre ultimately left, married and moved to Australia to start a family in Perth. She founded a non-profit, Speak Out, Act, Reclaim, aimed at “education and advocating for victims of trafficking”.
Giuffre's family would welcome contact from Royal Family
09:52 , James ReynoldsSky Roberts told Newsnight that he would “welcome any contact” from the Royal Family, asked if he had had any contact from Andrew, the Palace or the King.
What do we know about Virginia Giuffre’s memoir?
09:37 , James ReynoldsVirginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir is due to be published on Tuesday, October 21.
Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir Of Surviving Abuse And Fighting For Justice is described by the publishers as “a remarkable recounting of one woman’s fortitude in the face of depravity and despair, and the legacy she leaves behind”.
Excerpts seen by The Sun and The Guardian reference Giuffre’s trauma years after she alleged abuse by Jeffrey Epstein and his circle.
The memoir calls Epstein a “master manipulator” and describes three instances in which she alleges Prince Andrew had sex with her.
Giuffre died at the age of 41, six months after completing the book, which is co-written with author Amy Wallace.
"Only the beginning", says Giuffre's sister-in-law
09:21 , James ReynoldsVirginia Giuffre’s sister-in-law said this is “only the beginning of what is to come” after Prince Andrew gave up his titles on Friday.
Speaking to Newsnight with Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, Amanda said the story is far bigger than apparent, and that the family will be “relentless”.
Sky said that the work his sister “put in is now coming to some sort of justice”.
Is Andrew still a prince? His titles explained
08:28 , Arpan RaiPrince Andrew was given the prestigious title of the Duke of York, the highest rank in the British peerage, by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Queen had a great personal affection for the title, which she gave to Andrew on the morning of his wedding.
It was a title once held by her father, King George VI, before he acceded the throne.
But now Andrew has finally been forced to relinquish his dukedom amid the long-running fallout of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
What next for Andrew? His dukedom and titles explained – and is he still a prince?
Prince Andrew told Jeffrey Epstein ‘we are in this together’ day after Virginia Giuffre photo emerged
07:55 , Arpan RaiPrince Andrew told Jeffrey Epstein “we are in this together” the day after the infamous photograph of him with Virginia Giuffre emerged, according to reports.
The Duke of York also reportedly told his paedophile friend “we'll play some more soon” in the email dated 28 February 2011 – three months after the date he told the BBC he had severed contact with the disgraced financier.
The message is reported to also cast doubt on another of the claims Andrew, 65, made in his infamous 2019 interview with Newsnight – that his meeting with Ms Giuffre “didn't happen”.
Andrew told Epstein ‘we’re in this together’ day after Virginia Giuffre photo emerged
Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre suffered nightmares of ‘greedy men on top of her’ years after abuse, new memoir reveals
07:30 , Arpan RaiVirginia Giuffre revealed in a posthumous memoir that she endured nightmares of “greedy, heaving men on top of me”, years after she said she was sexually exploited by Jeffrey Epstein and his affiliates.
Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, had alleged that she was the victim of sex trafficking and that Prince Andrew was among Epstein’s circle of connections.
In a new memoir to be released next week, she wrote that she was still haunted by trauma almost 20 years later, while in hospital with Covid, according to excerpts obtained by The Sun.
Epstein accuser Giuffre had nightmares of ‘greedy men on top of her’ after abuse
Virginia Giuffre’s family celebrates after Prince Andrew drops royal titles
07:10 , Arpan RaiThe family of Prince Andrew's late sexual abuse accuser, Virginia Giuffre, is celebrating the royal relinquishing his remaining titles amid continued fallout over his ties to the late sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein.
“This is not just a victory for her, but for every single survivor of the horrific crimes perpetrated by [Jeffrey] Epstein and his co-conspirators”, family members told The New York Post in a statement.
The family has called for Andrew, who has denied all wrongdoing, including Giuffre’s allegations, to lose his title of prince next.
Giuffre, who died by suicide earlier this year, was one of the first people to publicly call for charges against Epstein and has been an outspoken advocate for his alleged victims.
Virginia Giuffre’s family celebrates after Prince Andrew drops royal titles
Watch: What did Virginia Giuffre say about royal titles?
06:54 , Arpan Rai"As a Royal.. if you're not safeguarding the most vulnerable people in your community, why should you hold those positions of power?"
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) October 17, 2025
As Prince Andrew gives up his royal titles, watch the recent interview with Virginia Giuffre's family who spoke to #Newsnight about royal titles pic.twitter.com/tEvGDZfk3P
What are the recpercussions on Andrew's family?
06:25 , Arpan RaiAs well as no longer using the title of the Duke of York, a long-established title that was gifted to him by his mother Queen Elizabeth II at his wedding to Sarah Ferguson in 1986, Andrew will also give up other titles: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.He will remain a prince, which he is entitled to since birth.
Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also no longer use the title of Duchess of York. Their children, Beatrice and Eugenie, will remain princesses.
Andrew's chaotic marriage to Ferguson, widely known as Fergie, lasted a decade though the two remain close, living together in a 30-room mansion near Windsor Castle.
Ferguson herself has been embroiled in Epstein-related allegations.
Last month, a number of charities severed ties with her after British newspapers published an email that she reportedly wrote to Epstein, describing him as a "supreme friend".
Newly-released documents show Prince Andrew took flights on Epstein's private jet
06:03 , Harriette BoucherPrince Andrew took additional flights on paedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet four times, documents published just hours after Andrew announced he would stop using his titles show.
The flight logs reveal that Andrew flew from Luton to Edinburgh on 1 September 2006, with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as a flight on 12 May 2000, where he is named as travelling with Epstein, Maxwell, celebrity chef Adam Perry Lang, a bodyguard and three others.
Two further flights in 1999 also showed the name “Prince Andrew”, alongside royal protection officer Steve Burgess.
Read more:
Andrew took flights on Epstein’s private jet, newly-released documents show
What Epstein related allegations does Prince Andrew face?
05:57 , Arpan RaiNews that Prince Andrew would be ditching his title came in the wake of the release of excerpts of an upcoming posthumous memoir from Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who alleged that she was trafficked by Epstein and had sex with Andrew when she was 17. The memoir is due to be published on Tuesday.
Giuffre died by suicide in April at the age of 41. In the memoir, she details alleged encounters with Prince Andrew, who she sued in 2021.
Andrew denied her claims and said he didn't recall having met her.
This is the latest fall from grace for the 65-year-old prince, who had already stepped down from public life in 2019 over his links to Epstein despite his denials of any wrongdoing.
Prince Andrew: All the royal titles the disgraced Duke of York has given up
05:00 , Harriette BoucherPrince Andrew: All the royal titles the disgraced Duke of York has given up
Andrew and Sarah brought down by their friendship with Jeffrey Epstein
04:01 , Maira Butt
Andrew and Sarah brought down by their friendship with Jeffrey Epstein
Virginia Giuffre’s family celebrates after Prince Andrew drops royal titles over alleged Epstein ties
03:00 , Maira ButtThe family of Prince Andrew's late sexual abuse accuser, Virginia Giuffre, is celebrating the royal relinquishing his remaining titles amid continued fallout over his ties to the late sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein.
“This is not just a victory for her, but for every single survivor of the horrific crimes perpetrated by [Jeffrey] Epstein and his co-conspirators”, family members told The New York Post in a statement.
The family has called for Andrew, who has denied all wrongdoing, including Giuffre’s allegations. to lose his title of prince next.
Josh Marcus reports:
Virginia Giuffre’s family celebrates after Prince Andrew drops royal titles
Virginia Giuffre's family called for Duchess of York to be stripped of royal title in weeks before announcement
02:02 , Maira Butt“As a Royal.. if you're not safeguarding the most vulnerable people in your community, why should you hold those positions of power?” Virginia Giuffre's sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, told BBC Newsnight last month.
Her comments came after it emerged that Sarah Ferguson, the then-Duchess of York, had called sex offender Jeffrey Epstein a “supreme friend”.
A spokesperson for Ferguson told the BBC that the comment was written to counter Epstein's threat to sue for defamation, and that she regretted any association with him.
"As a Royal.. if you're not safeguarding the most vulnerable people in your community, why should you hold those positions of power?"
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) October 17, 2025
As Prince Andrew gives up his royal titles, watch the recent interview with Virginia Giuffre's family who spoke to #Newsnight about royal titles pic.twitter.com/tEvGDZfk3P
In case you missed it: King Charles forces disgraced Prince Andrew to give up Duke of York title
01:00 , Maira ButtPrince Andrew has been forced to finally relinquish all his remaining titles – including the Duke of York – following another week of damaging scandal under pressure from his older brother, King Charles.
The prince is handing back all the remaining honours he clung onto despite being stripped of his HRH title and public duties by his mother, the late queen.
It comes just days before the publication of a memoir by Andrew’s late alleged victim, Virginia Giuffre, to whom he paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case, and after revelations he had held three meetings with a senior Chinese Communist Party official at the heart of the China spy case scandal.
Alastair Jamieson and Bryony Gooch report:
King Charles forces disgraced Prince Andrew to give up Duke of York title
Prince Andrew's full statement on dropping his titles
Saturday 18 October 2025 00:30 , Maira ButtIn a statement released by Buckingham Palace on Friday, Andrew 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.
“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.”
Several charities dropped Sarah Ferguson after leaked emails to Jeffrey Epstein
Saturday 18 October 2025 00:05 , Maira ButtIn the weeks before the announcement that Prince Andrew and his former wife Sarah Ferguson would drop their titles, the Duchess of York was dropped by several charities amid fallout from alleged links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Seven charities dropped the Duchess of York as patron after leaked emails appeared to show her apologising to paedophile Epstein for disowning him.
Children’s hospice Julia’s House announced the move last month followed by food allergy charity The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, Prevent Breast Cancer, the Teenage Cancer Trust and the British Heart Foundation.
Both the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA) and The Children’s Literacy Charity have also reportedly dropped Sarah Ferguson, according to the BBC.
The fresh series of scandals that have led to Prince Andrew's relinquishment of titles
Friday 17 October 2025 23:45 , Maira ButtThe announcement that Prince Andrew is giving up the use of his titles and honours comes days before Virginia Guiffre’s memoir, detailing allegations of sexual abuse against Andrew, is set to be released.
This week, Prince Andrew has made headlines for a series of scandals, including new revelations of his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, whom it was revealed he sent an email to three months after the date he said he had severed contact.
In the email, he told the paedophile, “we are in this together”, and “we'll play some more soon”.
It was also recently revealed that Andrew met a senior Chinese Communist Party official at the heart of the China spy scandal, at least three times in 2018 and 2019.
An extract of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir was also published on Wednesday, detailing the allegations of sexual abuse against the prince.
She claimed that Andrew believed having sex with her was “his birthright.”
Virginia Giuffre’s brother calls on King to 'take out the ‘prince’ in the Andrew'
Friday 17 October 2025 23:37 , Harriette BoucherVirginia Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, said he would welcome any contact with the King.
“We would call on the King to potentially go ahead and take out the ‘prince’ in the Andrew,” he told Newsnight.
“I think it’s so important for the world to know how much of a hero she was, but how much of the stone is still left unturned to some degree. This is just one step of many,” he says.
“We have shed a lot of happy and sad tears today. I think happy because in a lot of ways this vindicates Virginia.”
Giving up his titles not really Andrew's choice, says royal expert
Friday 17 October 2025 23:30 , Maira ButtRobert Hardman, who wrote a biography about King Charles, has said that Prince Andrew giving up his titles was not really his choice and due to the various scandals he was engulfed in.
He told BBC News: "Things are simply not going away.
"And I think the palace has decided, and Prince Andrew has agreed, that there really has to be a further separation.
"He wants to look as if he's proactive and try and regain some dignity out of this."
Mr Hardman added that although Andrew won’t use the titles, he hasn’t been stripped of them.
'My message to King Charles would be bravo', says Epstein survivor
Friday 17 October 2025 23:29 , Harriette BoucherHaley Robson, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein, has thanked the King for “standing up to the system and to the abusers” and would encourage him to give Donald Trump a call.
“Thank you for putting your people first and making the people a priority. Thank you for doing what is long awaited, what is appropriate, and for acting and doing the right thing. If you would like to give Trump a phone call, I encourage that,” she told Newsnight.
“This is why King Charles is king, he is showing the world, including America, what it looks like to have somebody held accountable.”
Virginia Giuffre's family call for the release of all Epstein files
Friday 17 October 2025 23:17 , Harriette BoucherVirginia Giuffre’s sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, has called for the US justice department to release all documents relating to Epstein.
Speaking on Newsnight, she said only 1 per cent of the documents relating to Epstein had been released.
“This country is in possession to the key to not only further incriminating Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, but taking down all the enablers.”
“It's so important, that is the justice that we are looking for. That is the justice Virginia wanted and we will non stop until that happens.”
Prince Andrew giving up his title is just “a small slither” of the justice, she says.
Sky Roberts, Giuffre’s brother, said there is more people that need to be held to account, further than Prince Andrew.
Prince Andrew has denied all allegations.
Prince Andrew remains 8th in line to the throne
Friday 17 October 2025 23:15 , Maira ButtAndrew has stopped using his remaining titles and honours, including the Duke of York, but he will remain a prince.
As the son of the late Queen Elizabeth he is still 8th in line to the throne.
The King's brother will retain the dukedom, which can only be removed by an Act of Parliament but he will not use the title.
He will also give up his knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and his Garter role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
The honours will both remain in existence but will not be used.
Andrew's downfall 'a joyous moment' for survivors, says Giuffre's brother
Friday 17 October 2025 23:04 , Harriette BoucherSpeaking on Newsnight, Sky Roberts, Virginia Giuffre’s brother, said he had been talking to Epstein survivors all day.
“It's just a joyous moment for them, because we're finally getting some sense of acknowledgement that this actually happened, what we're saying is the truth.”
Mr Roberts said some of the pressure Prince Andrew faced would have come from Giuffre’s soon-to-be released memoir, which lays out new details of allegations of sexual abuse against Prince Andrew.
“I want to be clear, she's with us right now. She's smiling. She would be very proud of her survivor sisters.”
Amanda Roberts, Giuffre’s sister-in-law, said: “This is only the beginning of what is to come.”
Who was Virginia Giuffre? Epstein survivor helped spearhead battle against sex trafficker
Friday 17 October 2025 23:00 , Maira Butt
Who was Virginia Giuffre? Epstein survivor aided fight against sex trafficker
King Charles 'glad' about Prince Andrew announcement
Friday 17 October 2025 22:45 , Maira ButtPrince Andrew’s decision to relinquish the use of his titles was made in conjunction with King Charles, who is said to be “glad” about the announcement.
“This decision basically was taken in conjunction with the King - yes, it was the prince's decision but with very close consultation with the King involved, and we understand that the King is glad of this outcome,” Sky News’ Royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills said on Friday.
What did the Duchess of York say about Epstein? Prince Andrew’s ex-wife dropped by charities over leaked emails
Friday 17 October 2025 22:30 , Maira ButtA string of charities cut ties with Prince Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson after newspapers published an email that she reportedly wrote to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in which she called him a “supreme friend”.
Children's hospice Julia’s House said the reported words made it inappropriate for the Duchess of York to remain as a patron.
Other causes that dropped Ferguson included the British Heart Foundation, the Teenage Cancer Trust, Prevent Breast Cancer and the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation.
Jane Dalton reports:
What Duchess of York said about Epstein as charities drop Prince Andrew’s ex-wife
What has happened to Andrew’s dukedom and is he still a prince?
Friday 17 October 2025 22:20 , Maira Butt
What has happened to Andrew’s dukedom and is he still a prince?
Relinquishing of titles does not mean they have been removed
Friday 17 October 2025 22:06 , Maira ButtAndrew’s title and honours have been relinquished, which means he will not use them. But this does not mean that they have been removed and they remain in existence.
Legislation would need to be passed for Parliament to completely strip Andrew of the Duke of York title.
It is understood to be thought, in royal quarters, to be a waste of parliamentary time to bring an Act of Parliament to remove the dukedom entirely.
Andrew still remains a prince.
At last, we know why Fergie, Mandelson, Prince Andrew and others fell for Epstein’s ‘Hannibal Lecter’ charm
Friday 17 October 2025 21:50 , Maira ButtPoor old Fergie. Having lost so much of her reputation, been involved in so many scandals, been divorced, banned, cancelled, sacked, fooled, defrauded, made fortunes, squandered fortunes, loved, lost, sued and been sued probably more times than any human being alive – I bet you can’t name one – she’s now lost most of her remaining charity gigs.
As is made perfectly clear by Andrew Lownie in Entitled, the unremittingly harsh new biography of her and Prince Andrew, her former husband, she has mostly been the architect of her own misfortunes. But the latest story, about Jeffrey Epstein, feels especially poignant.
Sean O’Grady reports:
Why did Fergie, Mandelson and others fall for Epstein’s vile charm?
Virginia Giuffre's family celebrate after Prince Andrew drops titles
Friday 17 October 2025 21:44 , Maira ButtThe family of Virginia Giuffre is celebrating the news that the royal has been forced to relinquish his remaining titles amid continued fallout over his ties to the sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein.
Giuffre had laid out new details of allegations of sexual abuse against Prince Andrew in a forthcoming memoir, but died at the age of 41, six months before completing it.
She was a central figure in the downfall of disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
“This is not just a victory for her, but for every single survivor of the horrific crimes perpetrated by [Jeffrey] Epstein and his co-conspirators”, family members told The New York Post in a statement.
The family has called for Andrew to lose his title of prince next.
Prince Andrew has denied all wrongdoing, including Giuffre’s allegations.
How Prince Andrew’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein led to his downfall
Friday 17 October 2025 21:37 , Maira ButtPrince Andrew has been under pressure for a long time over his association with paedophile financierJeffrey Epstein and his sex trafficker girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.
Here is how that friendship led to the prince’s disgrace and downfall.
How Prince Andrew’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein led to his downfall
Andrew's announcement 'a long time coming', says councillor
Friday 17 October 2025 21:31 , Maira ButtLiberal Democrat councillor Darryl Smalley has expressed relief after he campaigned for City of York council to remove Prince Andrew’s freedom of the city status and for the royal to be stripped of his Duke of York title.
“We’d obviously lobbied quite hard and sent several letters to the palace and to Prince Andrew himself, all of which via recorded post and none of which was answered, but obviously a few years later the pressure has meant that the palace has had to act,” Mr Smalley told PA on Friday.
“It’s obviously a long time coming but finally they recognised what a massive liability he is.”
He added: “Pleased that a long-running campaign has actually led to something. It’s not often in politics, particularly the royal family, that they seem to listen.
“However, obviously, it’s yet another moment where we need to think about those who are impacted by what Jeffrey Epstein did and all of his associates.”
Andrew was stripped of his freedom of the city status after a unanimous council vote in 2022.
Prince Andrew believed having sex with me was his birthright, Virginia Giuffre memoir claims
Friday 17 October 2025 21:24 , Maira ButtPrince Andrew acted as though having sex with Virginia Giuffre was his “birthright”, she claimed in her posthumous memoir.
Ms Giuffre, who was central figure in the downfall of disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, died at the age of 41 in April, six months after completing the book, which lays out new details of allegations of sexual abuse against Prince Andrew.
Ms Giuffre, who settled a sexual assault lawsuit against the Duke of York, alleges the duke slept with her on three separate occasions. Prince Andrew has always vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
In an extract of the book, Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir Of Surviving Abuse And Fighting For Justice, Ms Giuffre described the prince as “friendly enough, but entitled” as she had sex with him on various occasions, including while staying at the house of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend, near Hyde Park, London, in March 2001.
The extract, published in The Guardian, states: “Maxwell woke me up that morning by announcing in a sing-songy voice: ‘Get out of bed, sleepyhead!’ It was going to be a special day, she said. Just like Cinderella, I was going to meet a handsome prince!”
Virginia Giuffre's family called for Duchess of York to be stripped of royal title in weeks before announcement
Friday 17 October 2025 21:09 , Maira Butt“As a Royal.. if you're not safeguarding the most vulnerable people in your community, why should you hold those positions of power?” Virginia Giuffre's sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, told BBC Newsnight last month.
Her comments came after it emerged that Sarah Ferguson, the then-Duchess of York, had called sex offender Jeffrey Epstein a “supreme friend”.
A spokesperson for Ferguson told the BBC that the comment was written to counter Epstein's threat to sue for defamation, and that she regretted any association with him.
"As a Royal.. if you're not safeguarding the most vulnerable people in your community, why should you hold those positions of power?"
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) October 17, 2025
As Prince Andrew gives up his royal titles, watch the recent interview with Virginia Giuffre's family who spoke to #Newsnight about royal titles pic.twitter.com/tEvGDZfk3P
King Charles should be given power to remove titles, says MP
Friday 17 October 2025 21:02 , Joe MiddletonYork Central MP Rachael Maskell has said it is time for legislation to give the King power to remove titles after Prince Andrew announced he would no longer use his.
She said: “I have long called for the title of the Duke of York to be removed in the light that it carries an ambassadorial association with our city.
“York is England’s only UN Human Rights City and stands for a higher set of values and when polled, 80% of York residents voted for the removal of the title.
“Having sought to change the law through my Removal of Titles Bill, I now think it is time for this legislation, which provides the King new powers to be able to remove titles or for a grand committee of both Houses of Parliament to make a recommendation to the King to remove a title.”
Prince Andrew told Jeffrey Epstein ‘we are in this together’ day after Virginia Giuffre photo emerged
Friday 17 October 2025 20:55 , Maira ButtPrince Andrew told Jeffrey Epstein “we are in this together”, the day after the infamous photograph of him with Virginia Giuffre emerged, according to reports.
The Duke of York also reportedly told his paedophile friend “we'll play some more soon” in the email dated 28 February 2011 – three months after the date he told the BBC he had severed contact with the disgraced financier.
Tara Cobham reports:
Andrew told Epstein ‘we’re in this together’ day after Virginia Giuffre photo emerged
What did the Duchess of York say about Epstein? Prince Andrew’s ex-wife dropped by charities over leaked emails
Friday 17 October 2025 20:45 , Maira ButtWhat Duchess of York said about Epstein as charities drop Prince Andrew’s ex-wife
Prince Andrew ‘met China spymaster at least three times’
Friday 17 October 2025 20:35 , Maira ButtThe royal had faced fresh scandals in recent days, including meeting a senior Beijing official at the heart of the China spy scandal at least three times, according to reports.
Bryony Gooch reports:
Timeline of all the royal’s scandals as new info reveals further Epstein links
Friday 17 October 2025 20:28 , Maira ButtWidely purported to have been the late Queen’s “favourite” child, Prince Andrew has suffered a sharp fall from grace over the last decade.
Plagued by a string of controversies, the latest blow has seen new messages between the duke and Jeffrey Epstein come to light - sent months after Andrew claimed to have cut the disgraced financier off.
Emails between Andrew and Epstein handed to a court in London reportedly show they were still exchanging messages until at least late February 2011, when the duke wrote: “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon.”
Athena Stavrou reports:
Timeline of Prince Andrew’s downfall as new info reveals further Epstein links
All the titles the Royal will no longer use
Friday 17 October 2025 20:23 , Maira ButtAndrew will retain the dukedom, which can only be removed by an Act of Parliament, but not use it.
He will also give up his knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and his Garter role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
Prince Andrew remains 8th in line to the throne
Friday 17 October 2025 20:22 , Joe MiddletonAndrew has stopped using his remaining titles and honours, including the Duke of York, but he will remain a prince.
As the son of the late Queen Elizabeth he is still 8th in line to the throne.
The King's brother will retain the dukedom, which can only be removed by an Act of Parliament but he will not use the title.
He will also give up his knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and his Garter role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
The honours will both remain in existence but will not be used.
King Charles forces disgraced prince Andrew to give up Duke of York title
Friday 17 October 2025 20:15 , Maira ButtPrince Andrew has been forced to finally relinquish all his remaining titles – including the Duke of York – following another week of damaging scandal under pressure from his older brother, King Charles.
The prince is handing back all the remaining honours he clung onto despite being stripped of his HRH title and public duties by the late queen.
Alastair Jamieson and Bryony Gooch report:
King Charles forces disgraced prince Andrew to give up Duke of York title
Giving up his titles not really Andrew's choice, says royal expert
Friday 17 October 2025 20:15 , Joe MiddletonRobert Hardman, who wrote a biography about King Charles, has said that Prince Andrew giving up his titles was not really his choice and due to the various scandals he was engulfed in.
He told BBC News: "Things are simply not going away.
"And I think the palace has decided, and Prince Andrew has agreed, that there really has to be a further separation.
"He wants to look as if he's proactive and try and regain some dignity out of this."
Mr Hardman added that although Andrew won’t use the titles, he hasn’t been stripped of them.
King Charles 'glad' about Prince Andrew announcement
Friday 17 October 2025 20:10 , Maira ButtPrince Andrew’s decision to relinquish the use of his titles was made in conjunction with King Charles, who is said to be “glad” about the announcement.
“This decision basically was taken in conjunction with the King - yes, it was the prince's decision but with very close consultation with the King involved, and we understand that the King is glad of this outcome,” Sky News’ Royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills said on Friday.
How links to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein led to Prince Andrew’s downfall
Friday 17 October 2025 20:09 , Joe MiddletonPrince Andrew has been under pressure for a long time over his association with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and his sex trafficker girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.
Here is a timeline how that friendship led to the prince’s disgrace and downfall.
How links to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein led to Prince Andrew’s downfall
Fergie to give up Duchess of York title
Friday 17 October 2025 20:02 , Maira ButtSarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York and former wife of Prince Andrew, will give up her title following his announcement.
The changes are expected to take effect immediately.
However, the daughters of the former couple will continue to use the titles of Princess.
Prince Andrew to continue living at Royal Lodge
Friday 17 October 2025 19:56 , Maira ButtPrince Andrew will continue to reside at the Royal Lodge, a 30-room Windsor mansion, according to Sky News.
The Royal has been under pressure to give up the home, for which he has a private long-term lease with the Crown Estate.
He shares the property with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
Memoir of Andrew's alleged victim comes out soon
Friday 17 October 2025 19:41 , Joe MiddletonThe timing of the announcement is particularly prescient considering the book that is being released in a few days time.
Andrew's late alleged victim, Virginia Giuffre, will have her memoir published shortly.
Prince Andrew, who has always denied claims he had sex with Ms Giuffre, paid her a multi-million pound settlement.
The fresh series of scandals that have led to Prince Andrew's relinquishment of titles
Friday 17 October 2025 19:41 , Harriette BoucherThe announcement that Prince Andrew is giving up the use of his titles and honours comes days before Virginia Guiffre’s memoir, detailing allegations of sexual abuse against Andrew, is set to be released.
This week, Prince Andrew has made headlines for a series of scandals, including new revelations of his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, whom it was revealed he sent an email to three months after the date he said he had severed contact.
In the email, he told the paedophile, “we are in this together”, and “we'll play some more soon”.
It was also recently revealed that Andrew met a senior Chinese Communist Party official at the heart of the China spy scandal, at least three times in 2018 and 2019.
An extract of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir was also published on Wednesday, detailing the allegations of sexual abuse against the prince.
She claimed that Andrew believed having sex with her was “his birthright.”
Prince Andrew to relinquish use of all titles and honours following string of scandals
Friday 17 October 2025 19:18 , Harriette BoucherPrince Andrew is relinquishing the use of his titles, following further allegations in recent days.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, Prince Andrew said after a discussion with the King and his immediate and wider family, they decided "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.
"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."
Prince Andrew will still keep his dukedom, which can only be stripped by an Act of Parliament, but he will give up the use of his titles and honours.
He will also relinquish his knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and his Garter role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
He will remain a prince.
Breaking News
Friday 17 October 2025 19:06 , Joe MiddletonPrince Andrew is to stop using all of his titles and honours, including the Duke of York, he has announced in a statement released by Buckingham Palace.
