Why the Duke of York Has Relinquished His Royal Honors – and the Implications for the Royal Family
Through a statement issued by the royal household, the king's brother has confirmed he is relinquishing his royal titles, including his dukedom. Below are the details of what was announced – and what remains unchanged.
What Has Andrew Announced?
After previously stepped down as a active member of the monarchy in 2019, the prince has currently decided to “go a step further” and consent to refrain from using the “title or the awards which have been granted to” him.
But he also employed the announcement to emphatically rejecting – as he has always done – the allegations of misconduct leveled at him; albeit having paid out a substantial sum to settle the civil sexual assault case brought by Virginia Giuffre – a settlement in which he admitted no liability and firmly denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
There has existed ongoing scrutiny toward the royal institution regarding the allegations involving the prince – particularly after his ill-fated Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He presently states that his actions are to protect the royal family from further damage resulting from media scrutiny.
Did the Monarch Removed Him of His Honors?
No. And, while this could be dismissed as a mere formality, it is significant in multiple ways: first, it allows Andrew to publicly claim to have behaved with integrity in support of the crown. As he said in his announcement: “I have chosen, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and the nation first.”
Additionally, although he consented to abstain from using it, the prince keeps the dukedom, along with the honors his earldom and Baron Killyleagh and the esteemed Garter role as Royal Knight Companion of the prestigious order. Like the HRH royal style honorific, they are effectively dormant.
He continues to be a prince and eighth in the line of succession. Theoretically, he is also a potential stand-in for the monarch – and can stand in for the sovereign if he is abroad or unwell. Although the palace has indicated that, realistically, he will not be asked to fulfil this role.
Nevertheless, it is telling that Andrew’s statement said the decision was made “following talks with the king”. There seems little doubt that, privately, the palace pushed for the move in the aim of distancing the institution from Andrew.
Why Hasn’t He Formally Stripped of His Entire Honors?
To revoke a dukedom would require an act of parliament, and would constitute an unprecedented step in full view of the nation – it has not occurred to a high-ranking royal in over a century – that it could result in further reputational damage for the monarchy.
The prince remains a royal by birth. At his birth in 1960, he was automatically such as the son of a monarch. This could only be changed if a royal decree was enacted by the reigning monarch.
The entire procedure could end up being protracted, implying the objective of swiftly resolving the issue – at least for the monarchy's interests – may not be met.
What Does It Mean for Andrew?
Humiliation, likely above all. The statement signifies an effective loss of standing he has fought against for a long time.
The prince and his former spouse, Sarah, still live in Royal Lodge, notwithstanding rumoured attempts by the king to encourage his brother to move out of the thirty-room Crown Estate property in the Windsor estate.
While little light has been revealed about the precise amount of funds the prince has obtained as a result of his status, he remains a person of means. In 2007, he was able to secure £15m by selling a home that had been a wedding present from the queen, for example.
What Prompted This?
The seemingly endless series of controversies related to the prince has become intolerable for the monarch and other senior royals.
His association with the convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein has again in the headlines following revelations that the prince stated to him “we are in this together” in a message sent three months subsequent to his assertion to have ceased contact.
Additionally, there were reports about his connections with a suspected Chinese spy and, this week, excerpts were published from the book released after death of Giuffre, who took her own life in April. She alleged Andrew “thought that engaging sexually with her was his entitlement”.
Moreover, the sovereign is scheduled to undertake a significant trip to see the pontiff soon, when he will become the initial British king since Henry VIII split with Rome in 1534 to worship openly with the Holy Father and head of the Catholic church. He will not have wanted that trip to be overshadowed by further adverse coverage about his brother.
What Was the Reaction?
Although he stated Giuffre had been “justified” by the move, her sibling Sky Roberts has told a newspaper that Andrew’s honorary prince title ought to be removed for “true justice” to be done.
The republican advocacy organization Republic has also said the move is “insufficient and delayed”, adding: “Andrew remains facing allegations of sexual misconduct and misuse of position. He should be stripped of every honor and his navy rank and should face a legal probe. Refraining from using archaic honors is not a punishment that matches the accusations.”
