The newest growth within the long-running controversy comes simply days earlier than the publication of a memoir by Andrew’s late alleged sufferer, Virginia Giuffre.
Prince Andrew is to cease utilizing his remaining titles and honours, together with the Duke of York, within the wake of the Epstein scandal, he has introduced.
The newest growth within the long-running controversy comes simply days earlier than the publication of a memoir by Andrew’s late alleged sufferer, Virginia Giuffre, to whom he paid tens of millions to settle a civil sexual assault case.
In a press release launched by Buckingham Palace, Andrew mentioned that in dialogue with the King and his quick and wider household, they determined “the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal household”.
Andrew will stay a prince, which he has been entitled to since delivery.
The prince added: “I’ve determined, as I at all times have, to place my responsibility to my household and nation first. I stand by my determination 5 years in the past to face again from public life.
“With His Majesty’s settlement, we really feel I have to now go a step additional. I’ll due to this fact now not use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I’ve mentioned beforehand, I vigorously deny the accusations in opposition to me.”
The King’s brother will retain the dukedom, which may solely be eliminated by an Act of Parliament however not use it.
He may also surrender his knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and his Garter position as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
It’s understood that Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, may also surrender her title and be recognized solely as Sarah Ferguson. It comes after a royal supply mentioned King Charles reportedly reached “tipping level” over the prince’s ongoing scandals.
Andrew has confronted intense scrutiny over two main scandals – his hyperlinks to convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein and his affiliation with an alleged Chinese language spy. Ms Giuffre – one in all Epstein’s victims – accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her on three events in 2001, when she was 17 and had been trafficked by Epstein. She mentioned the encounters befell in London, New York, and on Epstein’s personal island.
Andrew has strenuously denied the allegations, insisting he has no reminiscence of assembly her – even implying {that a} well-known photograph of the pair – which reveals Andrew’s arm round her waist – might have been doctored. In 2021, Ms Giuffre sued him beneath the US Little one Victims Act, however the case was settled out of court docket in 2022, with no request for forgiveness.
The prince has additionally confronted backlash for persevering with to affiliate with Epstein after his conviction, and for a 2019 BBC interview defending these ties. Extra not too long ago, it emerged that Andrew met with Cai Qi – a senior Beijing official on the coronary heart of the China spy scandal.
