Journalism of Courage
Prince Andrew said on Friday he will relinquish his royal title as the Duke of York, acknowledging that the ongoing controversy surrounding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to overshadow the royal family.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, the younger brother of King Charles III said he and his relatives had jointly concluded that his presence was becoming a distraction.
“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,” Andrew said. “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.”
The decision follows renewed public scrutiny after excerpts surfaced from an upcoming posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who has long accused Epstein of trafficking her and claimed she was forced to have sex with Andrew when she was 17 allegations the prince has consistently denied.
Andrew, 64, said he stands by his previous choice to step back from royal duties, adding that he would now take another step away from public life.
“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further,” he said. “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 move marks the latest effort by the royal family to distance itself from the scandal that has shadowed Andrew for years, despite his repeated denials of wrongdoing.
