Buckingham Palace says ongoing accusations “distract” from King’s work; Andrew also relinquishes senior honours but retains prince by birth
LONDON/THUNDER BAY — Prince Andrew announced Friday he will no longer use the title Duke of York or other royal honours, stepping further back from public life as his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein returned to headlines with the release of excerpts from Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s posthumous memoir.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, Andrew said: “The continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family… 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 move caps a years-long fall from grace for the 65-year-old prince, who stepped down from public duties in 2019 following a widely panned BBC interview and later settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre in 2022 without admitting liability. Friday’s statement follows fresh attention triggered by excerpts from Giuffre’s forthcoming memoir, published after her death by suicide in April 2025 at age 41, according to her family and multiple outlets.
Buckingham Palace and multiple news organizations reported that Andrew will also forgo use of senior chivalric honors, including the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter; he will remain a prince by birth. The Palace had previously removed his military affiliations and royal patronages in 2022.
Background: From Navy “poster boy” to pariah
Once celebrated for his Royal Navy helicopter missions during the 1982 Falklands War, Andrew became a tabloid fixture for his social circle and globe-trotting lifestyle. His reputation cratered after his November 2019 BBC interview, which drew criticism for unusual defences (including a claim he could not sweat) and a perceived lack of empathy for Epstein’s victims.
Within days, he stepped back from royal duties.
Giuffre’s allegations and legal history
Giuffre alleged she was trafficked by Epstein and had sex with Andrew when she was 17—allegations he denies. She sued in 2021; the case settled in 2022 for an undisclosed sum. Court filings at the time noted Andrew acknowledged Epstein was a sex trafficker and that Giuffre was an established victim of abuse.
Interest in the case has re-intensified with the publication plan for “Nobody’s Girl,” a memoir developed before Giuffre’s death and now issued posthumously.
What changes now
Friday’s decision means Andrew will not use the Duke of York title and will relinquish certain orders and honors, though he retains the title of prince. Reports say his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson will no longer use Duchess of York, while Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie remain princesses.
NetNewsLedger will continue monitoring official Palace communications and UK media updates for any impact on royal roles and public engagements. It is not known what impact this move by Andrew will have in the United States where the administration of President Trump continues to fail on a promise to release the Epstein files.
