Prince Andrew renounces royal titles amid Epstein scandal

Prince Andrew on Friday said he would no longer use his royal titles, including Duke of York, following discussions with King Charles, according to a statement issued.

"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," Prince Andrew said in a statement released by Buckingham Palace.

"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," it added. According to a royal source, the decision is effective immediately. The prince has come under growing scrutiny over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as reported connections to an alleged Chinese spy.

Despite the controversy, Prince Andrew maintains that he "vigorously" denies all accusations. He had already withdrawn from public duties in 2019 after a heavily criticised BBC interview concerning his relationship with Epstein. "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 statement further read.

According to CNN, citing palace sources, Prince William and other senior members of the royal family were consulted before the decision was made for Prince Andrew to give up his royal titles, including Duke of York. Andrew's former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, will now be referred to as "Sarah Ferguson". However, the royal status of their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, remains unchanged, as reported by CNN.

As per CNN, citing the royal source, Prince Andrew will no longer participate in any of the royal family's Christmas celebrations. Despite stepping back from royal duties and titles, he will continue to live at the Royal Lodge in Windsor under a private tenancy agreement. As the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, he will retain the title of "prince". Prince Andrew's fall from public grace stems largely from a 2015 civil lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, who accused the prince of sexually abusing her when she was underage, as reported by CNN.

Giuffre claimed she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and forced to have sex with several of his associates, including Andrew, at locations in London, New York, and the US Virgin Islands, CNN reported.