LONDON – Prince Andrew announced on Friday that he has agreed to give up his royal titles, including Duke of York, after years of criticism over his connections to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, Andrew, 65, said that “the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” the BBC reported.
The brother of King Charles said that after consulting with King Charles III and his immediate and extended family, they decided that “the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.”
“I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours that have been conferred upon me,” the statement read.
He will, however, retain his title as a prince, which he has held since birth.
Prince Andrew has been under growing pressure over his links to Epstein.
“I vigorously deny the accusations against me,” he said.
His former wife, Sarah Ferguson, will no longer be known as the Duchess of York, but their daughters — Beatrice and Eugenie — will continue to hold the title of princess.
Epstein took his own life in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of trafficking underage girls for sex. – October 18, 2025