UK's Prince Andrew gives up royal titles after discussion with King

Prince Andrew has announced he will relinquish his royal titles, including the Duke of York, in a move agreed upon with the King and his family.

“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. 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,” Prince Andrew said in a statement.

He added, “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.”

Prince Andrew had already stepped back as a “working royal” and lost the use of his HRH title. His public standing has been under intense scrutiny over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with questions surrounding when he truly severed contact.

During a BBC Newsnight interview, Andrew stated he had cut all links with Epstein after they were photographed together in New York in December 2010. However, subsequent emails suggested private communications continued, including one message reading, “Keep in close touch and we'll play some more soon!”

The Duke of York’s children, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their royal titles, according to the BBC.

This latest decision marks another chapter in a series of public setbacks for Andrew, who had already lost military roles and positions at official royal events. His relinquishment of the Duke of York title and the Order of the Garter represents the most significant personal blow yet.

Once a source of pride and prestige, his royal honors had become a continuous distraction, drawing media attention away from the work of the rest of the Royal Family.