On October 17, 2025, the British monarchy took a decisive step to address one of its most persistent controversies. Prince Andrew, long embroiled in scandal over his associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and facing mounting public criticism, announced that he would relinquish his Duke of York title and other royal honours. The move, made public in a statement released by Buckingham Palace, marks a new chapter in the royal family's attempts to maintain its reputation amid ongoing scrutiny.
"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," Prince Andrew stated, as reported by BBC. "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."
The announcement, made just days before the anticipated release of Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir, was the result of intense deliberations within the royal household. According to The Mirror, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond suggested that Prince William, the Prince of Wales, played a pivotal role in the decision. "I think William has been pushing for tougher action against his uncle for a long time," Bond told the paper. She added that William, now 43, has been determined to modernize the monarchy and remove obstacles to its credibility. "I suspect he was heavily involved in the discussions about what action should be taken, and I think William was the driving force in twisting Andrew's arm so far behind his back that he finally squealed that he would give up his title."
Prince William’s influence appears set to extend beyond this episode. Reports from The Sunday Times and Jang indicate that William is expected to take a "more ruthless" approach towards Prince Andrew when he ascends the throne. He reportedly has no plans to invite his uncle to his own future coronation and is considering excluding Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, from royal occasions. However, Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will remain welcome at family and public events, a nod to their continued standing within the royal fold.
Sarah Ferguson, who has long used her maiden name professionally, will lose the Duchess of York title as a result of Andrew’s decision. Yet, she remains loyal to the King. The couple’s daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, retain their princess titles and are not expected to be affected by the changes. Andrew, for his part, will remain a prince—a status conferred by birth under the Letters Patent issued in 1917—and continues to be eighth in line to the throne.
Despite the relinquishment of his dukedom and other honours, Prince Andrew’s living arrangements remain unchanged. He will continue to reside at Royal Lodge in Windsor, where he holds a private lease until 2078. The move, while significant, does not strip him of his princely status—one aspect of his identity that, under current law, cannot be revoked.
The decision to step back comes after years of controversy and legal battles. In 2022, Andrew settled a civil case with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most vocal accusers, with an undisclosed payment. He did not admit wrongdoing. Giuffre had alleged that Andrew had sex with her on multiple occasions when she was 17, claims the prince has consistently denied. The settlement followed Andrew’s earlier decision to stop using the style "His Royal Highness" and to return his military affiliations and royal patronages to Queen Elizabeth II.
Public and political reactions to the announcement have been swift. Rachael Maskell, independent MP for York Central, welcomed the news but called for further reforms. Speaking to BBC, Maskell said, "We need to ensure that we close that chapter by ensuring in the future those titles can be removed." She emphasized that York’s association with Prince Andrew had become a source of discomfort for the city, noting, "Whilst we all understand that the [former] Duke of York doesn't live in a castle in our city, across the world that association is made with our city. People come from all over the world to York and we want to ensure that the real values of York are upheld."
Maskell had previously proposed the Removal of Titles Bill, which would allow the monarch or a parliamentary committee to strip individuals of their titles. She has now urged Parliament to reconsider the legislation, "should anything ever occur in future years." The MP acknowledged the pressure on Andrew to relinquish his title and expressed hope that the decision would serve as recognition of the pain caused to victims and survivors of Epstein’s crimes.
The timing of Andrew’s announcement is particularly notable, coming just ahead of the release of Giuffre’s memoir. The book is expected to include further allegations against the prince. Sky Roberts, Giuffre’s brother, told BBC Newsnight that the news brought "mixed emotions" but would have made his late sister proud. "We have shed a lot of happy and sad tears today. I think happy because in a lot of ways this vindicates Virginia," he said. "All the years of work that she put in is now coming to some sort of justice, and these monsters can't escape from it—the truth will find its way out."
Other survivors have echoed this sentiment. Haley Robson, another Epstein accuser, described the moment as "bittersweet," telling BBC Newsnight that "having him [Prince Andrew] step down and be stripped of his titles is something that is long delayed, and it is very appropriate, and kudos to King Charles."
Nevertheless, not everyone is satisfied with the royal response. Royal biographer Andrew Lownie told BBC Breakfast that a "firmer line should have been taken" and argued that the statement "should have come from the King." Lownie remarked, "If Andrew was putting his duty to his family and his country first, he would have moved out of Royal Lodge years ago and would have actually stood down many years ago."
As the royal family continues to grapple with the fallout from Andrew’s associations, the episode highlights the ongoing challenges facing an institution striving to modernize while contending with the shadows of its past. For many, the decision to strip Andrew of his titles is a welcome, if overdue, step towards accountability and the restoration of public trust.
With the monarchy’s eyes firmly on the future, the actions taken in recent days signal that even the most storied of institutions is not immune to the demands of transparency and change.
