Why the Duke of York Has Relinquished His Official Honors – and the Implications for the Monarchy

Through a statement issued via Buckingham Palace, Prince Andrew has declared he is giving up his royal titles, including the Duke of York. Here is an overview of what has been revealed – and what remains unchanged.

What Has Andrew Announced?

After previously stepped down as a working royal in 2019, the prince has currently decided to “go a step further” and consent not to use the “honor or the honours which have been conferred upon” him.

However, he used the statement to emphatically denying – as he has always done – the accusations of misconduct made against him; even though after settling millions to settle the civil sexual assault case filed by Virginia Giuffre – a settlement in which he admitted no liability and strongly rejected any claims of wrongdoing.

There has been ongoing scrutiny toward the royal institution over the claims involving the prince – especially since his disastrous Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He now claims he is acting to protect the royal family from further damage resulting from media scrutiny.

Has the King Removed Him of His Honors?

No. And, while this might be viewed as a simple procedure, it is significant in multiple ways: first, it enables the prince to openly state to have behaved with integrity in support of the monarchy. As he said in his statement: “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, Andrew retains the dukedom, as well as the titles his earldom and his barony and the prestigious position as a member of the prestigious order. Like the HRH royal style honorific, they are effectively dormant.

He remains a prince and eighth in the line of succession. In theory, he is also a potential stand-in for the monarch – and may deputize for the king should he be abroad or unwell. Although royal officials has indicated that, realistically, he would not be called upon to fulfil this role.

Nonetheless, it is significant that the prince's announcement said this choice was made “in discussion with the monarch”. There seems little doubt that, behind the scenes, the palace pushed for this in the hope of distancing the institution from Andrew.

Why Hasn’t He Been Officially Stripped of All of His Titles?

To revoke a dukedom would take an act of parliament, and would constitute an unprecedented step publicly before the public – it has not occurred to a high-ranking royal in over a century – that it could result in further harm to the image for the royals.

Andrew is also still a prince. At his birth in 1960, he became as the son of a monarch. This would only be changed if a letters patent was enacted by the king.

The whole process could end up being drawn-out, implying the objective of quickly addressing the matter – at least for the royal family’s purposes – would not necessarily be met.

What Are the Implications for Andrew?

Humiliation, likely above all. The statement represents an substantial reduction of standing he has fought against for a long time.

He and his ex-wife, Sarah, still live in Royal Lodge, despite reported efforts by his brother to encourage Andrew to relocate of the 30-room royal residence in the Windsor estate.

While little light has been revealed about the precise amount of money Andrew has received as a result of his status, he remains a wealthy individual. In 2007, he was able to secure £15m by selling a home that had been a wedding present from his mother, for example.

Why Now?

The seemingly endless series of controversies related to the prince has become intolerable for the king and other senior royals.

His friendship with the jailed child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is once again in the headlines following revelations Andrew had told him “we are in this together” in an email sent three months after he claimed to have ended communication.

There have also been stories about his connections with an alleged Chinese spy and, this week, excerpts appeared from the book released after death of Giuffre, who died by suicide in April. She claimed Andrew “thought that engaging sexually with her was his birthright”.

Moreover, the king is scheduled to make a historic visit to see the pontiff soon, when he will become the initial British king after Henry the Eighth split with Rome in 1534 to worship openly with the Holy Father and head of the Catholic church. He would not desire that visit to be overshadowed by more negative headlines about his brother.

What Has Been the Response?

While he said his sister had been “justified” by the decision, her sibling Sky Roberts informed a newspaper that the prince's style should be revoked for “genuine accountability” to be achieved.

The republican advocacy organization Republic has also said the move is “insufficient and delayed”, noting: “Andrew remains accused of sexual offences and abuse of office. He ought to be stripped of all titles and his military position and should face a legal probe. Refraining from using silly medieval titles is not a penalty that fits the offences.”