He’s no longer associated with our city.
Prince Andrew is to stop using his remaining titles and honours, including the Duke of York, in the wake of the Epstein scandal, he has announced.
The latest development in the long-running controversy comes just days before the publication of a memoir by Andrew’s late alleged victim, Virginia Giuffre, to whom he paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, Andrew said that in discussion with the King and his immediate and wider family, they decided “the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family”.
Andrew will remain a prince, which he has been entitled to since birth.
The prince added: “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 King’s brother will retain the dukedom, which can only be removed by an Act of Parliament but not use it.
He will also give up his knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and his Garter role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
Victory for campaigners
York councillors stripped Prince Andrew of his freedom of the city three years ago.
In the light of recent allegations, York Central MP Rachael Maskell had urged that both the Duke and Duchess of York should be relieved of their titles by an act of parliament.
Tonight Ms Maskell said: “I have long called for the title of the Duke of York to be removed in the light that it carries an ambassadorial association with our city.
“York is England’s only UN Human Rights City and stands for a higher set of values and when polled, 80% of York residents voted for the removal of the title.
“Having sought to change the law through my Removal of Titles Bill, I now think it is time for this legislation, which provides the King new powers to be able to remove titles or for a grand committee of both Houses of Parliament to make a recommendation to the King to remove a title.”
Local campaigner Gwen Swinburn has been calling on the council to take more action against the Prince.
She was delighted by the royal news, telling YorkMix tonight: “About time that we can finally be rid of the disgrace that that man has brought on our city.
“Only today I had urged council leaders and the MP to step up and declare him persona non grata!”
