Prince Andrew has been stripped of his royal patronages and military titles due to the ongoing sexual assault case against him. The Duke of York will no longer be styled “His Royal Highness” as well.
Prince Andrew, 61, is at the center of a US civil action over sexual assault allegations made by Virginia Giuffre. Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied the allegations, but a judge ruled on Wednesday that Guiffre’s civil action could proceed.
Buckingham Palace released a statement announcing that: “With the Queen’s approval and agreement, the Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to the Queen.”
“The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.”
Prince Andrew’s roles will be filled by other members of the Royal Family, effective immediately.
Prince Andrew accused of sexual abuse in connection with Jeffrey Epstein
Giuffre, 38, filed a civil case in New York in August 2021 against Prince Andrew under New York’s Child Victims Act. The act gives survivors of childhood sexual assault the ability to file a case that may have otherwise been dismissed for falling outside the statute of limitations.
Giuffre alleges that she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who committed suicide before facing trial, to have a sexual relationship with Prince Andrew at age 17.
Giuffre says that Prince Andrew assaulted her three times, twice in the UK and once in the US — where she was a minor, according to US law.
The anti-monarchy group Republic released a letter on Thursday that was signed by over 150 Royal Navy, RAF and Army veterans asking the Queen to revoke Prince Andrew’s military titles immediately.
Lt. Stuart Hunt, who served in The 1st Royal Tank Regiment and added his signature to the letter, told the PA News Agency: “It’s an unsavoury business… I’m just glad he’s not associated with the military now.
“Whether he’s guilty or not, he has brought things into disrepute… He’s not fit to serve in an honorary rank. He has forgone that right by getting into this sort of situation,” Hunt added.
Prince Andrew served in the Royal Navy for 22 years and was a helicopter pilot during the Falklands War.
He has officially lost his military titles including Colonel of the Grenadier Guards — one of the most high ranking infantry regiments in the British Army.
He has also lost these UK military titles:
- Honorary air commodore of RAF Lossiemouth
- Colonel-in-chief of the Royal Irish Regiment
- Colonel-in-chief of the Small Arms School Corps
- Colonel-in-chief of The Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeth’s Own)
- Colonel-in-chief of the Yorkshire Regiment
- Colonel-in-chief of the Small Arms School Corps
- Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm
- Royal Colonel of the Royal Highland Fusiliers
- Royal Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
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