The Reasons Prince Andrew is Giving Up His Royal Honors – and the Implications for the Monarchy
Through a statement issued via Buckingham Palace, the king's brother has declared that he will be giving up his official honors, including the Duke of York. Below are the details of what was revealed – and what wasn't.
What Did Andrew Said?
After previously withdrawn as a working royal in 2019, Andrew has currently chosen to “go a step further” and agree to refrain from using the “title or the honours which have been conferred upon” him.
But he also used the statement to emphatically rejecting – as he has always done – the accusations of misconduct made against him; even though having paid out a substantial sum to resolve the legal claim brought by Virginia Giuffre – a settlement in which he accepted no fault and strongly rejected all allegations of wrongdoing.
There has been persistent pressure toward the royal institution regarding the allegations involving the prince – particularly after his ill-fated Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He now claims he is acting to safeguard the royal family from additional harm resulting from media scrutiny.
Has the King Stripped Him of His Titles?
Not at all. And although this might be viewed as a mere formality, it is significant in two respects: first, it allows Andrew to publicly claim to have acted honourably in support of the monarchy. As he said in his announcement: “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.”
Additionally, while he has agreed to abstain from using it, the prince keeps his ducal title, as well as the honors the Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh and the esteemed Garter role as Royal Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter. Like the HRH royal style title, they essentially become dormant.
He remains a prince and eighth in the line of succession. Theoretically, he is also still a counsellor of state – and may deputize for the king if he is overseas or unwell. Although royal officials has made clear that, realistically, he would not be called upon to perform these duties.
Nonetheless, it is significant that the prince's announcement indicated the decision was made “following talks with the king”. There seems highly likely that, privately, the royal household advocated for this in the aim of distancing the institution from Andrew.
Why Hasn’t He Formally Stripped of His Entire Honors?
To revoke a ducal title would take legislative action, and would constitute such a historic move publicly before the public – it has not happened to a senior royal in more than 100 years – that it could cause more harm to the image for the monarchy.
Andrew is also still a prince. When he was born in 1960, he became as the child of the sovereign. This could only be changed if a royal decree was enacted by the reigning monarch.
The entire procedure might ultimately being protracted, meaning the objective of swiftly resolving the issue – at least for the monarchy's interests – may not be met.
What Are the Implications for the Prince?
Humiliation, likely above all. The statement represents an effective loss of standing he has resisted for a long time.
He and his ex-wife, Sarah, still live in Royal Lodge, despite rumoured attempts by the king to persuade Andrew to move out of the 30-room royal residence in the Windsor estate.
While little light has been shed on exactly how much 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 property that had been a gift from his mother, for example.
Why Now?
The seemingly endless list of scandals related to the prince has proved unacceptable for the monarch and other high-ranking family members.
His friendship with the jailed sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein is once again under scrutiny after it emerged that the prince stated to him “we are in this together” in an email sent three months after he claimed to have ceased contact.
There have also been reports about his association with a suspected intelligence operative and, recently, extracts were published from the posthumous memoir of Giuffre, who took her own life in April. She claimed Andrew “thought that engaging sexually with her was his birthright”.
Furthermore, the sovereign is due to undertake a significant trip to meet Pope Leo soon, during which he will be the initial British king since Henry VIII split with Rome in 1534 to worship openly with the pope and leader of Catholicism. He would not desire that trip to be marred by further adverse coverage about his brother.
What Has Been the Reaction?
While he said Giuffre had been “justified” by the decision, her sibling Sky Roberts informed a newspaper that the prince's style should be revoked for “true justice” to be done.
The anti-monarchist campaign group Republic has additionally stated the action is “insufficient and delayed”, adding: “Andrew remains accused of sexual misconduct and abuse of office. He ought to be stripped of all titles and his military position and should undergo a legal probe. Refraining from using silly medieval titles is not a punishment that fits the offences.”
