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Prince Andrew plans to renounce the use of his royal titles, including Duke of York, after discussing the issue with King Charles.
“Following discussions with the King and my immediate family, I have come to the conclusion that continued accusations against me will interfere with the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” Prince Andrew said in a statement released by Buckingham Palace.
A royal source told CNN the changes will take effect immediately.
Prince Andrew is facing increasing pressure over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and a suspected Chinese spy.
The prince reiterated that he “categorically” denies the accusations against him.
Andrew withdrew from public life in 2019 after a BBC interview about his relationship with Epstein was widely criticized.
Behind the scenes of Prince Andrew’s BBC interview
“With His Majesty’s consent, I felt I had to go a step further. I therefore no longer intend to use my title or the honors bestowed upon me,” Andrew said on Friday.
Prince William and other members of the royal family were also consulted in the talks.
Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, became known as ‘Sarah Ferguson’. The titles of her daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will not be affected by the move.
According to a royal source, the couple will no longer attend royal Christmas events.
A royal source said Andrew will continue to live at Royal Lodge in Windsor, where he has a private lease. Since he is the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, he will also retain the title of “prince.”
Andrew’s highly publicized troubles began in 2015 after he faced a sexual abuse lawsuit from Virginia Giuffre.
Giuffre alleged that Epstein trafficked her in 2001 and forced her to have sex with friends, including Prince Andrew, knowing she was a minor in the United States at the time.
Giuffre also alleged that Andrew sexually abused her at Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, at his Manhattan mansion and at the London home of his ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.
Amid the lawsuit, Andrew was stripped of his military titles and positions in several charitable organizations.
Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied Giuffre’s claims.
In 2022, Prince Andrew and Giuffre reached a private out-of-court settlement.
Prince Andrew and Epstein’s more than 10-year friendship ended in 2011 when Epstein threatened to take legal action against Prince Andrew’s ex-wife.
Prince Andrew is also under intense scrutiny over his ties to a suspected Chinese spy.
Court documents reveal the extent of Andrew’s relationship with Yan Tembo, who reportedly had a close relationship with the prince.
A court hearing in December 2024, which upheld an earlier decision to bar Mr Yang from the UK, revealed that Mr Yang had been authorized to act on behalf of Prince Andrew in business meetings with potential Chinese investors in the UK.
Throughout the government’s investigation into the relationship, Yang has denied any wrongdoing.
