Why the Duke of York Has Relinquished His Royal Honors – and What It Means for the Royal Family
Through a statement issued via Buckingham Palace, the king's brother has confirmed that he will be relinquishing his official honors, including his dukedom. Here are the details of what was announced – and what wasn't.
What Did Andrew Announced?
Having already stepped down as a working royal in 2019, Andrew has now decided to “go a step further” and consent to refrain from using the “title or the honours which have been conferred upon” him.
But he also used the statement to emphatically denying – as he has always done – the accusations of misconduct made against him; albeit after settling millions to resolve the civil sexual assault case filed by Virginia Giuffre – an agreement in which he accepted no fault and firmly denied all allegations of improper conduct.
There has been persistent pressure toward the royal institution over the claims involving the prince – particularly after his ill-fated television appearance with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He now claims he is acting to protect his relatives from additional harm caused by media scrutiny.
Did the Monarch Removed Him of His Honors?
No. And although this might be viewed as a simple procedure, it holds importance in two respects: initially, it allows Andrew to openly state to have acted honourably in defence of the monarchy. As stated in his statement: “I have chosen, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and the nation first.”
Additionally, although he consented to abstain from using it, the prince keeps his ducal title, along with the titles his earldom and his barony and the prestigious Garter role as Royal Knight Companion of the prestigious order. Similar to the His Royal Highness title, they essentially become inactive.
He remains royalty and eighth in succession to the throne. In theory, he is also still a counsellor of state – and can stand in for the king if he is abroad or ill. However the palace has indicated that, in practice, he would not be called upon to perform these duties.
Nevertheless, it is significant that Andrew’s statement indicated the decision was made “in discussion with the monarch”. It appears little doubt that, privately, the royal household pushed for the move in the aim of cutting Andrew loose.
Why Hasn’t He Formally Stripped of His Entire Honors?
To forcibly remove a ducal title would take legislative action, and would represent such a historic move publicly before the nation – it has not occurred to a high-ranking royal in more than 100 years – that it would likely cause more reputational damage for the royals.
Andrew is also still a prince. At his birth in 1960, he was automatically such as the son of a monarch. This could only be altered if a royal decree was issued by the reigning monarch.
The whole process could end up being drawn-out, implying the objective of quickly addressing the matter – particularly for the monarchy's interests – may not be met.
What Are the Implications for the Prince?
Humiliation, likely above all. The announcement signifies an effective loss of standing he has resisted for years.
The prince and his former spouse, Sarah, continue to reside in their Windsor residence, despite rumoured attempts by the king to encourage Andrew to relocate of the thirty-room Crown Estate property in Windsor Great Park.
While little light has been shed on exactly how much funds Andrew has received as a result of his status, he remains a wealthy individual. Back in 2007, he managed to secure £15m by selling a property that had been a gift from his mother, as an instance.
Why Now?
The seemingly endless series of controversies related to the prince has proved intolerable for the monarch and other high-ranking family members.
His association with the jailed child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has again under scrutiny after it emerged Andrew had told him “we share this situation” in a message sent three months subsequent to his assertion to have ceased contact.
There have also been stories about his association with a suspected intelligence operative and, this week, excerpts appeared from the posthumous memoir of Giuffre, who died by suicide in April. She alleged the prince “believed that engaging sexually with her was his birthright”.
Furthermore, the sovereign is due to undertake a significant trip to see the pontiff next week, during which he will be the initial British king since Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church in 1534 to worship openly with the Holy Father and head of the Catholic church. He would not desire that trip to be marred by further adverse coverage about Andrew.
What Was the Response?
While he said his sister had been “justified” by the move, her sibling Sky Roberts informed a newspaper that Andrew’s honorary prince title ought to be removed for “true justice” to be achieved.
The republican advocacy organization Republic has additionally stated the action is “insufficient and delayed”, adding: “Andrew remains accused of sexual offences and abuse of office. He ought to be stripped of every honor and his military position and should face a criminal investigation. Not using silly medieval titles is not a punishment that matches the accusations.”
