The King informed Prince Andrew that his time as a senior royal had come to an end during a brief ten-minute phone conversation. The decision followed new allegations connecting Andrew to the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and suspected ties to Chinese intelligence agents, causing frustration and weariness within the royal family.
Sources close to the royal family revealed that after consulting with his relatives, including Prince William, the King advised Andrew to take necessary actions to address the ongoing scandals. Andrew was urged to relinquish his titles, except for prince, as it was deemed inappropriate for him to maintain the privileges associated with his rank.
In response to the call, Andrew agreed to renounce his titles as Duke of York and Knight of the Garter, which had been in effect for years. This move came after the recent suicide of Virginia Giuffre, who accused Epstein of trafficking her and alleged encounters with Andrew. The timing coincides with the impending release of Giuffre’s memoir, reigniting public interest in the scandal.
Giuffre’s family viewed Andrew’s decision as a win for Virginia, calling on the King to strip Andrew of his prince title as well. Despite Andrew’s denial of the accusations, Giuffre’s memoir details disturbing encounters with the prince, including instances in Epstein’s residences in New York and the US Virgin Islands.
The memoir also sheds light on Andrew’s attempts to silence Giuffre with a gag order to protect the Queen’s reputation during her platinum jubilee celebration. Despite his consistent denial, Andrew settled with Giuffre out of court for £12 million in February 2022, which she considered a form of acknowledgment and compensation for the harm she endured.
Giuffre’s family hailed Andrew’s title relinquishment as a step towards justice for victims of Epstein’s trafficking network, emphasizing the importance of holding individuals like Epstein and Maxwell accountable. Additionally, Andrew faced scrutiny for his connections to alleged Chinese spies, further complicating his public image and involvement in international affairs.
As a result of giving up his titles, Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will no longer use her Duchess of York title, having faced controversy over her past communications with Epstein. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the recent developments.