Why Prince Andrew Has Surrendered His Official Honors – and the Implications for the Monarchy
Through a announcement released via Buckingham Palace, Prince Andrew has declared that he will be giving up his royal titles, including his dukedom. Here is an overview of what has been announced – and what remains unchanged.
What Did the Prince Said?
Having already stepped down as a active member of the monarchy in 2019, Andrew has currently decided to “take additional measures” and agree to refrain from using the “title or the honours which have been conferred upon” him.
However, he used the statement to make a point of denying – as he has always done – the accusations of sexual impropriety made against him; albeit having paid out a substantial sum to resolve the legal claim filed by Virginia Giuffre – an agreement in which he admitted no liability and strongly rejected all allegations of wrongdoing.
There has been ongoing scrutiny on the monarchy over the claims against Andrew – especially since his ill-fated Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He now claims he is acting to protect the royal family from further damage resulting from media scrutiny.
Has the King Removed Him of His Honors?
No. And, while this might be viewed as a simple procedure, it holds importance in multiple ways: first, it enables the prince to publicly claim to have behaved with integrity in support of the crown. As he said in his statement: “I have decided, as I always have, to prioritize my obligations to my relatives and the nation first.”
Second, although he consented to abstain from using it, the prince keeps the dukedom, as well as the titles his earldom and Baron Killyleagh and the prestigious position as a member of the prestigious order. Like the HRH royal style honorific, they are effectively inactive.
He continues to be royalty and eighth in succession to the throne. In theory, he remains a potential stand-in for the monarch – and can stand in for the king should he be overseas or ill. Although royal officials has indicated that, in practice, he would not be called upon to perform these duties.
Nevertheless, it is significant that Andrew’s statement said this choice was made “in discussion with the monarch”. There seems little doubt that, privately, the palace advocated for this in the aim of cutting Andrew loose.
Why Hasn’t He Formally Stripped of His Entire Honors?
To revoke a ducal title would require an act of parliament, and would represent such a historic move publicly before the nation – it has not occurred to a high-ranking royal in over a century – that it could result in further harm to the image for the monarchy.
Andrew is also still a prince. At his birth in 1960, he became such as the child of the sovereign. This could only be altered if a letters patent was issued by the king.
The entire procedure might ultimately being protracted, implying the goal of quickly addressing the matter – at least for the royal family’s purposes – would not necessarily be achieved.
What Does It Mean for Andrew?
Humiliation, probably more than anything else. The statement signifies an substantial reduction of status he has resisted for years.
He and his ex-wife, Sarah, still live in their Windsor residence, despite rumoured attempts by the king to encourage Andrew to move out of the thirty-room Crown Estate property in Windsor Great Park.
While little light has been revealed about exactly how much money the prince has obtained due to his position, he continues to be a wealthy individual. In 2007, he was able to raise £15m by selling a property that had been a gift from his mother, for example.
Why Now?
The seemingly endless series of controversies involving Andrew has become unacceptable for the king and other high-ranking family members.
His friendship with the jailed child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is once again in the headlines following revelations Andrew had told him “we share this situation” in an email dispatched months after he claimed to have ceased contact.
There have also been reports about his association with a suspected intelligence operative and, this week, excerpts appeared from the posthumous memoir of Giuffre, who took her own life in April. She claimed Andrew “thought that having sex with me was his birthright”.
Furthermore, the king is due to make a historic visit to meet Pope Leo soon, during which he will be the initial British king since Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church in 1534 to worship openly with the pope and head of the Catholic church. He would not desire that visit to be overshadowed by further adverse coverage about his brother.
What Was the Reaction?
Although he stated Giuffre had been “vindicated” by the move, Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts informed the Times that the prince's style should be revoked for “genuine accountability” to be done.
The anti-monarchist advocacy organization Republic has also said the action is “insufficient and delayed”, adding: “Andrew remains accused of sexual offences and abuse of office. He should be stripped of every honor and his military position and should face a legal probe. Not using archaic honors is not a penalty that fits the offences.”