The British monarchy is once again under intense scrutiny as Prince Andrew faces mounting pressure from politicians, the public, and victims’ advocates to be formally stripped of his royal titles and privileges. This latest wave of controversy erupted following the publication of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl, and the emergence of new evidence suggesting Prince Andrew maintained contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein longer than previously admitted. The developments have reignited debate over the prince’s role in public life, the monarchy’s accountability, and the boundaries of royal immunity.
On October 20, 2025, after discussions with his elder brother King Charles III, Prince Andrew agreed to stop using his formal titles, including Duke of York, in an effort to shield the royal family from further negative headlines. However, as BBC and DW report, this move has not satisfied critics who argue that relinquishing the use of titles is not enough. Technically, Andrew still holds the dukedom, a distinction bestowed by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and remains a prince by virtue of his birth.
The controversy intensified with the release of Giuffre’s memoir on October 21, 2025. The book, which quickly shot to number one on Amazon’s bestseller list, details three alleged sexual encounters with Prince Andrew—in London, New York, and on Epstein’s private island. Giuffre, who sued Andrew in 2022 for alleged sexual abuse (a suit settled out of court without admission of liability), died by suicide in April at age 41. In her memoir, Giuffre writes, “After casting doubt on my credibility for so long—Prince Andrew’s team had even gone so far as to try to hire internet trolls to hassle me—the Duke of York owed me a meaningful apology as well. We would never get a confession, of course. That’s what settlements are designed to avoid. But we were trying for the next best thing: a general acknowledgment of what I’d been through.”
As the book’s revelations dominated headlines, the Scottish National Party (SNP) seized the moment to push for decisive action. On October 21, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn lodged a parliamentary motion demanding the UK government strip Andrew of all royal titles, including the Duke of York and Earl of Inverness. Flynn argued, “Prince Andrew’s titles can only be removed by an act of parliament—therefore this SNP motion is a way to pile pressure on the UK Labour government to bring forward that legislation immediately. The public knows this is the right thing to do, and even more importantly the victims at the heart of the Epstein scandal know that it’s the right thing to do. It needs to be done without any further excuses and any further delay.”
Despite the strong language from opposition politicians, the government has so far declined to act without explicit support from the monarch. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told the BBC, “We would be guided by the Royal Family in this and I imagine the royal family would want parliament to continue to dedicate our time to our wider legislative programme, but we will be guided by the monarch. It’s why we do support the statement that was issued and the action that has been taken. But of course, Prince Andrew holds the title of prince because he is the son of a monarch, and that’s the situation that we have.”
Calls for more drastic measures have come from across the political spectrum. Senior Conservative MP Robert Jenrick told the BBC that Andrew should “leave public life forever” and “stop having any subsidy from the taxpayer whatsoever.” Meanwhile, Business Secretary Peter Kyle called on Andrew to cooperate fully with US and UK investigators, telling ITV’s Good Morning Britain, “I think anybody that has any information that could bring justice and information to victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes should be fully engaging with any of the authorities that are seeking to deliver that information and justice for the victims.”
The prince’s finances have also come under renewed scrutiny. Documents released by The Crown Estate revealed that Andrew has paid an annual rent of “one peppercorn (if demanded)” since 2003 for Royal Lodge, his 30-room mansion near Windsor Castle, which he holds on a 75-year lease. This arrangement has raised questions about how Andrew funds his lifestyle and whether continued access to such privileges is appropriate under the circumstances.
Public anger has only grown as more details have emerged. Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, urged King Charles III to go further, telling The Times of London, “He shouldn’t be able to call himself one [a prince].” Opposition politicians have echoed this sentiment, with SNP’s Flynn stating, “The family of Virginia Giuffre, whose life was destroyed, are angry and aghast. The public across these isles are angry and aghast and they both deserve to know that some [members of Parliament] share their outrage.”
The palace, for its part, appears to be bracing for further damaging revelations. In addition to the memoir, British newspapers published emails indicating that Andrew’s contact with Epstein extended beyond what he had previously admitted. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are “actively looking into” reports that Andrew, in 2011, sought information to smear Giuffre by asking a police bodyguard to check for a criminal record.
The monarchy’s response to the crisis has been cautious. The UK’s constitutional framework means that the crown does not interfere in politics, and politicians are generally reluctant to wade into royal affairs. Nonetheless, the SNP’s parliamentary motion and the growing chorus of voices from across the political landscape have made it increasingly difficult for the issue to be ignored.
Prince Andrew’s own public statements and actions have done little to quell the storm. His disastrous 2019 BBC interview, in which he attempted to rebut Giuffre’s allegations, was widely seen as lacking empathy for Epstein’s victims and featured explanations that many found implausible—such as his claim that he was physically incapable of sweating due to a war injury. Following the interview, Andrew stepped down from royal duties and, in 2022, relinquished his military titles and the use of “His Royal Highness.”
Yet, as the headlines and public outcry make clear, these steps have not satisfied many Britons or the victims’ advocates who see Andrew’s continued status—even in name only—as an affront to justice and accountability. The palace’s reluctance to act decisively, coupled with the government’s deference to royal wishes, has left the issue unresolved and the monarchy’s reputation in the balance.
As King Charles III prepares for a state visit to the Vatican, the royal family faces an uncomfortable reckoning. With the publication of Nobody’s Girl and the renewed push in Parliament, the question of Prince Andrew’s titles and privileges remains a live—and deeply contentious—issue in British public life.
