🔗 Share this article Why Prince Andrew Has Relinquished His Official Honors – and What It Means for the Royal Family Through a announcement released via Buckingham Palace, the king's brother has confirmed he is giving up his royal titles, such as his dukedom. Below is an overview of what was announced – and what wasn't. What Has the Prince Said? Having already withdrawn as a working royal in 2019, the prince has now chosen to “go a step further” and consent not to use the “honor or the awards which have been granted to” him. However, he used the statement to make a point of rejecting – consistent with his past statements – the accusations of misconduct made against him; albeit having paid out a substantial sum to settle the legal claim brought by Virginia Giuffre – an agreement in which he accepted no fault and firmly denied all allegations of improper conduct. There has been persistent pressure toward the royal institution over the allegations involving the prince – especially since his ill-fated television appearance with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He now claims that his actions are to safeguard his relatives from additional harm resulting from public speculation. Did the Monarch Stripped Him of His Titles? No. And although this might be viewed as a simple procedure, it is significant in multiple ways: first, it allows Andrew to publicly claim to have behaved with integrity in defence of the crown. As stated in his announcement: “I have chosen, consistent with my past, to prioritize my obligations to my relatives and country first.” Second, while he has agreed to abstain from using it, the prince keeps the dukedom, as well as the honors the Earl of Inverness and his barony and the prestigious Garter role as Royal Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter. Like the HRH His Royal Highness title, they are effectively inactive. He continues to be royalty and eighth in the line of succession. Theoretically, he is also still a counsellor of state – and can stand in for the king should he be abroad or unwell. Although royal officials has made clear that, in practice, he will not be called upon to perform these duties. Nevertheless, it is telling that the prince's announcement said this choice was made “following talks with the king”. There seems highly likely that, privately, the royal household pushed for this in the hope of distancing the institution from Andrew. Why Hasn’t He Formally Stripped of All of His Titles? To revoke a dukedom would require an act of parliament, and would represent an unprecedented step in full view of the nation – it has not happened to a high-ranking royal in more than 100 years – that it would likely result in further harm to the image for the royals. The prince remains still a prince. When he was born in 1960, he was automatically such as the son of a monarch. This would only be altered if a royal decree was enacted by the king. The entire procedure might ultimately being drawn-out, meaning the goal of quickly addressing the issue – at least for the royal family’s purposes – would not necessarily be met. What Does It Mean for the Prince? Humiliation, probably more than anything else. The statement represents an substantial reduction of status he has resisted for a long time. He and his ex-wife, Sarah, continue to reside in Royal Lodge, despite rumoured attempts by the king to persuade Andrew to move out of the 30-room royal residence in the Windsor estate. While little light has been revealed about exactly how much money the prince has obtained due to his status, he remains a person of means. Back in 2007, he managed to secure £15m by selling a home that had been a gift from the queen, as an instance. What Prompted This? The seemingly endless series of controversies involving Andrew has become unacceptable for the monarch and other high-ranking family members. His friendship with the jailed sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein has again under scrutiny following revelations that the prince stated to him “we share this situation” in a message sent three months subsequent to his assertion to have ceased contact. Additionally, there were reports about his connections with a suspected Chinese spy and, recently, excerpts were published from the posthumous memoir of Giuffre, who took her own life in April. She claimed the prince “thought that having sex with me was his entitlement”. Moreover, the king is due to undertake a significant trip to meet Pope Leo next week, when he will become the initial British king after Henry the Eighth split with Rome in 1534 to worship openly with the pope and leader of Catholicism. He will not have wanted that visit to be overshadowed by more negative headlines about his brother. What Has Been the Response? While he said Giuffre had been “vindicated” by the decision, her sibling Sky Roberts has told the Times that the prince's style ought to be removed for “genuine accountability” to be done. The republican advocacy organization Republic has also said the action is “too little, too late”, adding: “Andrew remains facing allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of office. He should be divested of all titles and his navy rank and should face a legal probe. Not using silly medieval titles is not a penalty that matches the accusations.”