Britain’s Prince Andrew announced on Friday that he would relinquish the use of his title, Duke of York, following years of controversy surrounding his association with the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and other allegations that have tarnished his reputation. The 65-year-old prince, who is eighth in line to the throne, said he was stepping back further to avoid distracting from King Charles III and the wider royal family’s duties. “I have decided to put my duty to my family and country first,” Andrew said in a statement, adding that the decision was made with the king’s agreement.

Once celebrated as a naval officer and veteran of the Falklands War, Andrew’s public image has been in decline for over a decade. He was forced to quit his role as UK trade ambassador in 2011 and stepped down from all royal duties in 2019. In 2022, he was stripped of military links and patronages after being accused of sexual misconduct by Virginia Giuffre, a case he settled out of court while continuing to deny all allegations. The renewed attention on the scandal following Giuffre’s memoir has intensified public scrutiny.

A recent YouGov poll showed 67% of Britons support removing Andrew’s remaining royal titles, reflecting widespread disapproval. While he remains a prince and will continue living at Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle, he will no longer attend key royal gatherings, including Christmas at Sandringham. His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, remain unaffected, but his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, will no longer be known as the Duchess of York. Historians note that such a move — a senior royal relinquishing a dukedom — is unprecedented in over a century.

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