London — October 17, 2025: Prince Andrew has officially relinquished his royal titles and honours, including his long-held Duke of York title, amid renewed public scrutiny over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, the prince said the “continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” adding that he remains “committed to supporting my family and serving my country in whatever capacity I can.”
The move follows years of fallout from Andrew’s association with Epstein. Although he stepped back from public duties in 2019 and was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages in 2022, he had continued to hold the Duke of York title — until now.
The decision, reached in consultation with King Charles III, effectively ends Prince Andrew’s formal association with the British monarchy. He will also relinquish his knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and his status as a Royal Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter.
Royal sources say King Charles is “pleased” with the outcome, viewing it as an opportunity to draw a line under the controversy that has shadowed the royal family for years.
Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their titles, while his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, will continue to be known as the Duchess of York.
The announcement coincides with the upcoming posthumous publication of a memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who has alleged that Epstein trafficked her and that she was coerced into sexual encounters with Andrew when she was 17 — claims the prince has repeatedly denied.
In 2022, Andrew reached a civil settlement with Giuffre in the United States, reportedly worth millions of pounds, without any admission of guilt.
The relinquishment of his titles marks a defining moment in Prince Andrew’s public downfall, underscoring the monarchy’s ongoing efforts to protect its reputation amid one of its most damaging scandals in decades.
