UK royals, government urged to remove Prince Andrew’s titles
LONDON, Oct 21: Prince Andrew is under increasing pressure to be formally stripped of his royal titles and privileges amid new revelations about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Although Andrew agreed last Friday, after talks with King Charles III, to stop using titles such as “Duke of York,” critics say this is not enough. He still technically holds the dukedom granted by Queen Elizabeth II and remains a prince as the monarch’s son.
The controversy resurfaced after emails revealed Andrew maintained contact with Epstein longer than he had admitted.
This emerged just before the release of a posthumous memoir by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, who alleges she was sexually abused by Andrew at 17.
Andrew denies the claims but settled a civil lawsuit in 2022 for millions, without admitting guilt.
Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, has urged the king to remove Andrew’s princely title entirely, saying he shouldn’t be able to call himself a prince.
Some opposition politicians have called for Parliament to formally strip Andrew of his dukedom.
Scottish National Party lawmaker Stephen Flynn also suggested removing titles from Peter Mandelson, who was dismissed as UK ambassador to Washington due to his Epstein links.
Flynn said victims and the public are “angry and aghast” and deserve to see accountability.
The government supports the palace’s decision on Andrew’s titles but insists it should not intervene directly, respecting the UK’s constitutional monarchy where royal family matters remain separate from politics.
There are also calls for Andrew to be evicted from Royal Lodge, a 30-room mansion near Windsor Castle leased from the Crown Estate.
Questions have been raised about how Andrew finances his residence, especially since ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who lives with him, will no longer be known as Duchess of York.
The palace is bracing for further damaging disclosures as Giuffre’s memoir Nobody’s Girl details multiple alleged sexual encounters with Andrew and claims his team tried to silence her.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police are investigating reports that Andrew asked a bodyguard in 2011 to dig up damaging information on Giuffre. (AP)
Headquarters in Manchester, England, Monday. (PTI)
