Prince Andrew gives up royal titles including Duke of York after ‘discussion with king’

Prince Andrew has made a major concession to the royal family, relinquishing his association with several high-profile titles and honors in an effort to distance himself from mounting controversy. The Duke of York title, which he had held since 1986, is set to be formally surrendered after "discussion with the king," according to a statement released by Buckingham Palace.

The decision follows months of intense media scrutiny surrounding Prince Andrew's association with late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his reported connections to individuals suspected of spying for China. The prince has maintained that he was unaware of any wrongdoing on Epstein's part, but numerous allegations have tarnished his reputation and raised concerns about the royal family's handling of the situation.

As part of this arrangement, Prince Andrew will also be giving up his knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and his status as Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. This effectively means that he will only retain his basic title as Prince, which cannot be removed.

While Prince Andrew's decision is seen as an attempt to put distance between himself and the royal family's reputation, it has also sparked debate about the role of titles in modern British society. Labour MP Rachael Maskell has called for a law change that would grant the monarch more flexibility in removing titles on their own initiative or with the recommendation of a joint parliamentary committee.

The controversy surrounding Prince Andrew has been further fueled by recently published emails that appear to show he had contact with Epstein after claiming to have severed ties. The prince's decision to step down from public life in 2019 was made following an initial scandal over his friendship with Epstein, and it seems this new development is a significant escalation.

Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's victims, has welcomed Prince Andrew's decision, stating that it represents "vindication for my sister and survivors everywhere." The move comes as the royal family seeks to restore public trust and rebrand itself in response to growing concerns about their handling of sensitive issues.

In a broader context, this development highlights the complexities surrounding British monarchs' relationships with powerful individuals and organizations. As Prince Andrew's situation demonstrates, even those in positions of immense power can be held accountable for their actions, and that consequences can follow when reputations are tarnished by association with questionable figures.

omg, just read about prince andrew's latest move ... i gotta say, he's finally taking responsibility for his actions, but it's about time . giving up those high-profile titles is a big concession, no doubt about it. i mean, who wouldn't want to distance themselves from the royal family's reputation right now? . but, on a bigger note, this whole situation just goes to show how powerful people can be held accountable for their actions... and we need to keep pushing for change . especially when it comes to laws surrounding titles and honors, like rachael maskell is advocating for . anyway, let's hope prince andrew's decision is a step in the right direction, but also let's not forget that consequences can follow, even for those in positions of power .

so they're ditching the titles thingy... like a big ol' concession makes me wonder how many other royals are hiding secrets too but yay for Virginia Giuffre, finally getting some vindication at least it's not about the monarchy being all corrupt and stuff (tho that's probs still true lol)

I'm not surprised to see Prince Andrew finally stepping down from all the titles and honors he's had for years . It's about time, considering how many people have been affected by his friendship with Epstein. I mean, come on, who doesn't know that's a major red flag? The thing is, we can't just blame Prince Andrew entirely; our whole royal family needs to take responsibility for their associations too. And let's be real, this isn't the first time they've covered up some shady stuff...

But anyway, I do hope this is a sign of things changing around there . Maybe it's time we start questioning why these titles and honors are still being handed out in the first place. Like, what's really going on behind those fancy doors? And Rachael Maskell's idea about changing the law so the monarch can make decisions like this without needing parliamentary approval? Now that's something I'd be all for !

the royal family has gotta be doing some serious damage control on this one lol prince andrew is basically stripping himself of all his fancy titles just to save face. i mean, i get it, he's trying to distance himself from the whole epstein debacle but it feels like a bit too little, too late. and let's be real, his whole situation is still super sketchy . i don't know about this law change thing though, maybe it's time for some reform? but seriously, who gets to decide when someone's title is taken away? sounds like a pretty big power play to me .

come on guys, it's about time someone got rid of those problematic titles anyway, i think this is a good move by the palace but let's not forget who's really behind all this - epstein was a total scumbag and prince andrew should've severed ties way back when. now that he's giving up his knighthood, maybe it's an opportunity for him to actually make amends i mean, some people are saying labours rachael maskell is onto something with her idea of changing the law but wouldn't that just create more problems down the line? at least now prince andrew can focus on being a "regular" royal without all those extra trappings.

come on man prince andrew is just trying to save face at this point his whole career has been ruined over epstein and now he's giving up all the titles and honors lol like it's gonna make a difference but seriously can we talk about how messy the royal family's handling of this situation is? it's like they're more worried about appearances than actually doing what's right also rachael maskell is totally right that the monarchs should have more flexibility when it comes to removing titles who needs all those fancy titles anyway

I'm not surprised to see Prince Andrew stepping down from his titles, it's about time. All these years, he's been trying to distance himself from Epstein, but the scandal just wouldn't go away . It's good that he's finally taking responsibility and acknowledging that his actions (or lack thereof) have consequences.

You know, I've seen a lot of changes in my 75 years on this earth, and one thing that remains constant is the need for accountability. As we age, we tend to think less about the world in black and white, more about the shades of gray . This situation with Prince Andrew is a perfect example of how our actions can have far-reaching effects.

The debate around titles and their role in modern society is interesting, but I think it's secondary to the bigger picture here – being held accountable for one's actions. We need to recognize that just because you're born into a position of power or wealth doesn't mean you get a free pass . It takes courage to admit when we've made mistakes and work towards making things right.

I'm glad Virginia Giuffre is finding some vindication, but I hope it's not just about her story – it's about creating a culture where no one is above the law or scrutiny .

I gotta say, this is a big deal . I mean, Prince Andrew thought he was above the law just 'cause he's royalty , but it looks like the royal family doesn't want him dragging them down any longer. Giving up his titles and honors makes sense, but at what cost? Is this just a PR move to get people off their backs or is Prince Andrew actually taking responsibility for his actions?

It's also interesting that there's already talk about changing the laws surrounding titles . I mean, who gets to decide when someone's title is stripped away? The monarch? Parliament? It's like they're trying to create a whole new system of accountability .

And what about all the other royals who might be worried about being tainted by association with Prince Andrew? Are they all gonna follow suit and start distancing themselves too? I dunno, but one thing's for sure: this is a game-changer in terms of how we think about power and accountability .

I'm not surprised he's giving up his titles... it's like, if you're gonna sit at the table, you gotta be willing to take the fall too . It's a risk we all know, especially those in positions of power. I mean, think about it, who wants to be associated with someone else's dirty laundry? But at the same time, it's like, what does giving up titles really do? Does it erase the past or just hide it behind some fancy paper? It's all about perception and trust, right? The royal family's trying to restore that now, but I wonder if it's too little, too late...

omg, this is crazy! i mean, prince andrew was already a bit of a pariah after the epstein thing, but relinquishing his titles? thats a huge concession it's like he's saying "okay, i get it, i messed up, can i just start over now?"

i feel bad for him though, because this is gonna hurt the royal family's rep and stuff. but at the same time, who wouldn't want to distance themselves from epstein's shadow? like, even if you didn't do anything wrong, being associated with someone that shady can be a total drag.

and omg, those emails are just ugh! i mean, i know he said he severed ties, but clearly he didn't. thats some bad communication skills right there

anyway, im just glad virginia giuffre is getting some vindication. that's what it's all about - holding people accountable for their actions and making sure justice is served

It's about time someone around here got called out on their dirty dealings... I mean, who needs a title to hide behind? Giving up the GCVO and Garter was the least he could do after being linked to Epstein . The royals are trying to save face, but at what cost? It's all about reputation management now . Maybe it's time for some real changes in the royal family... like making it easier to strip titles from those who abuse their power .

I mean, on one hand, it's good to see the royal family taking steps to distance themselves from Prince Andrew's controversies... but on the other hand, isn't this just a PR stunt? He's still basically a member of the royal family, which is kinda like being in witness protection. And what about all the little titles and honors he's giving up? Does that really make a difference when it comes to his personal reputation? I feel like we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg here... there are bound to be more skeletons coming out of his closet.

I gotta say, it's kinda weird to see a member of the royal family literally giving up all that extra stuff just to save face . I mean, who needs all those titles and honors when you're already basically a prince anyway? But seriously, this whole thing raises some interesting questions about power, accountability, and how much control the monarchs really have over what happens to their family members.

I also think it's kinda sick that Prince Andrew was able to maintain a friendship with Epstein for so long without anyone questioning it . I mean, we all know now that Epstein was basically a monster, but back then, he was just some rich guy who knew the royal family. It's like, how did nobody notice anything suspicious?

Anyway, I do think it's good to see Prince Andrew distancing himself from all this controversy . And kudos to Virginia Giuffre for speaking out and advocating for survivors of Epstein's abuse . That takes a lot of courage, especially when you're dealing with powerful people like the royal family.

But let's not forget that this whole thing is also about the system and how it allows people in power to get away with stuff . We need real change and accountability, not just some token gesture from a member of the royal family .

I feel like this is a big step forward for Prince Andrew... I mean, it's about time he distanced himself from that Epstein drama . The fact that he's giving up all those titles and honors shows he's willing to take responsibility for his actions. It's not going to restore his reputation overnight, but at least this is a start. And I think it's awesome that Virginia Giuffre has spoken out - we need more people like her who aren't afraid to call out injustice . The royal family needs to be held accountable for their handling of situations like this, and I'm glad they're taking steps in the right direction .

I'm so glad to see Prince Andrew stepping down from all these titles, it's about time he did . I mean, who wants a reputation tainted by Epstein's shady dealings? Not the royal family, that's for sure . It's interesting how this whole thing has sparked a conversation about titles in modern British society, though. Like, should they be able to just hand them out like they're going out of style? And what's up with Labour MP Rachael Maskell wanting to make it easier for the monarch to remove titles on their own? Sounds like a power move to me .

But you know who's happy about this whole thing? Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's victims. Her family deserves vindication and I'm glad she's speaking out . And let's be real, the royal family needs to step up its game if they want to restore public trust. This is a big deal, folks .

I mean, who needs titles and honors to feel important? I'm sure Prince Andrew's basic title of "Prince" will make all the difference in his life now . It's not like he was holding onto those for the prestige or to remind everyone of his royal status . I guess it's good that he's taking a step back from public life... but about time, if you ask me . The real question is, what's next? Will they be giving back all the gifts and cash he's received over the years?

omg i'm literally so relieved this is finally happening!! prince andrew has been getting roasted nonstop on social media and i was starting to think it was gonna be a permanent stain on the royal fam's rep but now he's taking steps to distance himself from all that drama this decision shows that even the royals can't avoid accountability for their actions i'm also loving how virginia giuffre is speaking out about this - she deserves so much credit for standing up for herself and others who've been affected by epstein's crimes

I think this is a big step for the royal family, but it's also kinda late to the party tbh. I mean, Prince Andrew should've thought about how his actions would affect his reputation years ago . But hey, at least he's taking responsibility now and stepping down from all those titles. It's interesting that there's still so much debate about whether the monarchs have too much power to give out titles in the first place... I think it'd be cool if they had more flexibility to take them away when needed, but also not be able to just hand them out willy-nilly . And can we talk about how this whole thing highlights how our perception of powerful people and their actions changes over time? It's crazy how much scrutiny Prince Andrew is under now compared to a few years ago

I feel bad for Prince Andrew, to be honest . He's already taken a huge hit to his rep, and now he's giving up all those fancy titles? It's like, yeah, maybe it was time to step down from the public eye anyway. But still, it's gotta hurt to let go of that kind of power and prestige.

And I'm with Virginia Giuffre on this one - it's about time someone held Prince Andrew accountable for his actions . The royal family needs to get its act together and show some transparency when it comes to these kinds of situations. It's not just about the prince, either - it's about setting an example for future generations.

I'm also kinda curious to see how this law change thing plays out . If there really is talk of changing the rules around titles, that could be a game-changer for the monarchy and who they associate with. It'll be interesting to see how that all shakes out!