🔗 Share this article The Reasons the Duke of York is Giving Up His Royal Honors – and the Implications for the Monarchy In a statement issued by the royal household, the king's brother has confirmed that he will be relinquishing his royal titles, such as his dukedom. Here are the details of what was revealed – and what wasn't. What Did Andrew Said? Having already stepped down as a active member of the monarchy in 2019, Andrew has now decided to “take additional measures” and consent to refrain from using the “honor or the awards which have been granted to” him. However, he used the statement to make a point of rejecting – as he has always done – the allegations of sexual impropriety leveled at him; albeit having paid out millions to resolve 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 ongoing scrutiny on the monarchy over the claims against Andrew – particularly after his disastrous Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He now claims he is acting to safeguard his relatives from further damage resulting from media scrutiny. Has the King Removed Him of His Honors? Not at all. And although this might be viewed as a mere formality, it is significant in two respects: initially, it allows Andrew to publicly claim to have acted honourably in support of the monarchy. As he said in his announcement: “I have decided, consistent with my past, to put my duty to my relatives and the nation first.” Additionally, although he consented not to use it, Andrew retains his ducal title, along with the titles 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 dormant. He remains royalty and eighth in the line of succession. Theoretically, he remains still a counsellor of state – and can stand in for the king if he is abroad or ill. Although royal officials has made clear that, realistically, he would not be asked to perform these duties. Nevertheless, it is telling that Andrew’s statement said this choice was made “following talks with the monarch”. It appears highly likely that, privately, the royal household pushed for this in the hope of distancing the institution from Andrew. Why Was He Not Formally Stripped of His Entire Honors? To forcibly remove a dukedom would take an act of parliament, and would constitute such a historic move publicly before the nation – it has not happened to a senior royal in more than 100 years – that it could result in further reputational damage for the monarchy. The prince remains still a prince. At his birth in 1960, he became such as the son of a monarch. This could only be altered if a letters patent was enacted by the king. The whole process could end up being protracted, implying the goal of quickly addressing the issue – at least for the royal family’s purposes – would not necessarily be met. What Are the Implications for the Prince? Embarrassment, likely above all. The announcement signifies an substantial reduction of status he has fought against for years. The prince and his former spouse, Sarah, continue to reside in Royal Lodge, despite rumoured attempts by the king to encourage his brother to relocate of the thirty-room Crown Estate property 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 wealthy individual. In 2007, he managed to secure £15m from the sale of a home that had been a gift from his mother, for example. Why Now? The seemingly endless list of scandals related to the prince has become unacceptable for the monarch and other senior royals. His association with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is once again in the headlines after it emerged that the prince stated to him “we are in this together” in a message sent three months subsequent to his assertion to have ceased contact. Additionally, there were stories about his connections with an alleged Chinese spy and, recently, extracts were published from the book released after death of Giuffre, who died by suicide in April. She claimed Andrew “thought that engaging sexually with her was his birthright”. Furthermore, the sovereign is due to make a historic visit to see the pontiff soon, during which he will be the initial British king after Henry the Eighth split with Rome in 1534 to worship openly with the Holy Father and head of the Catholic church. He will not have wanted that trip to be marred by more negative headlines about Andrew. What Was the Response? Although he stated his sister had been “justified” by the move, Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts informed a newspaper that the prince's style ought to be removed for “true justice” to be done. The republican advocacy organization Republic has also said the action is “insufficient and delayed”, adding: “The prince continues to be accused of sexual misconduct and misuse of position. He ought to be divested of every honor and his navy rank and should face a legal probe. Refraining from using archaic honors is not a punishment that fits the offences.”