Why Prince Andrew’s Royal Titles Won’t Be Removed Amid Jeffrey Epstein File Revelations

Rosa Sanchez, Omid Scobie
·2 min read
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london, england march 07 prince andrew, duke of york leaves the headquarters of crossrail at canary wharf on march 7, 2011 in london, england prince andrew is under increasing pressure after a series of damaging revelations about him surfaced, including criticism over his friendship with convicted sex offender jeffrey epstein, an american financier photo by dan kitwoodgetty images
Why Prince Andrew’s Title Won’t Be RemovedDan Kitwood - Getty Images
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Prince Andrew will keep his royal titles, despite the release of new details about his connection to Jeffrey Epstein.

Earlier this week, a list of names of people who had been associated with late disgraced financier Epstein was released, and among them was Prince Andrew's. Of course, we already knew about the royal's former friendship with Epstein (for which Queen Elizabeth II removed his military titles and patronages and made him a non-working royal), but the files—which stem from a 2015 lawsuit filed by Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre—describe in even more detail the sexual misconduct Andrew is accused of and has denied.

As explosive as the accusations are, it seems Andrew will retain his royal titles, mostly because his older brother, King Charles III, does not have the power to remove them.

london, united kingdom june 05 embargoed for publication in uk newspapers until 24 hours after create date and time prince andrew, duke of york and prince charles, prince of wales attend a service of thanksgiving to celebrate queen elizabeth iis diamond jubilee at st pauls cathedral on june 5, 2012 in london, england for only the second time in its history the uk celebrates the diamond jubilee of a monarch her majesty queen elizabeth ii celebrates the 60th anniversary of her ascension to the throne thousands of wellwishers from around the world have flocked to london to witness the spectacle of the weekends celebrations photo by max mumbyindigogetty images
Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

A Buckingham Palace source confirms to Bazaar.com that there will be “no change” regarding Andrew’s status: “He remains a non-working member of the family.” Having already been stripped of his honorary military titles and prevented from using his HRH styling, the source claims there is “nothing left to remove.” His Duke of York and Prince titles remain as they are his birthright (being the son of the late monarch) and it would take intervention from the British government to change that.

london, united kingdom june 08 embargoed for publication in uk newspapers until 24 hours after create date and time queen elizabeth ii and prince andrew, duke of york wearing the uniform of colonel of the grenadier guards watch a flypast from the balcony of buckingham palace during trooping the colour, the queens annual birthday parade, on june 8, 2019 in london, england the annual ceremony involving over 1400 guardsmen and cavalry, is believed to have first been performed during the reign of king charles ii the parade marks the official birthday of the sovereign, although the queens actual birthday is on april 21st photo by max mumbyindigogetty images
Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

Regarding his Royal Lodge residence, and reports that King Charles is to force him out, a palace aide tells Bazaar: “The occupancy of Royal Lodge is under a lease arrangement from the Crown Estate, not from the king.” A Buckingham Palace spokesperson would simply say, regarding Andrew’s house, “No comment on private family matters.”

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