🔗 Share this article Why Prince Andrew Has Surrendered His Royal Honors – and the Implications for the Royal Family Through a announcement released by the royal household, Prince Andrew has declared he is relinquishing his official honors, such as his dukedom. Below is an overview of what has been revealed – and what wasn't. What Has the Prince Said? After previously stepped down as a working royal in 2019, Andrew has now chosen to “go a step further” and agree to refrain from using the “title or the honours which have been conferred upon” him. However, he employed the announcement to emphatically rejecting – as he has always done – the allegations of misconduct leveled at him; even though having paid out millions to resolve the civil sexual assault case filed by Virginia Giuffre – a settlement in which he admitted no liability and firmly denied any claims of wrongdoing. There has existed persistent pressure on the monarchy over the claims against Andrew – especially since his disastrous television appearance with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He now claims he is acting to protect the royal family from further damage caused by media scrutiny. Has the King Stripped Him of His Titles? No. And, while this might be viewed as a simple procedure, it holds importance in multiple ways: first, it allows Andrew to publicly claim to have acted honourably in defence of the monarchy. As he said in his statement: “I have chosen, as I always have, to put my duty to my relatives and the nation first.” Second, while he has agreed to abstain from using it, the prince keeps his ducal title, along with the titles the Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh and the prestigious Garter role as a member of the prestigious order. Like the HRH royal style honorific, they are effectively inactive. He remains a prince and eighth in succession to the throne. In theory, he is also still a counsellor of state – and can stand in for the king if he is overseas or unwell. However the palace has made clear that, in practice, he would not be asked to fulfil this role. Nevertheless, it is telling that the prince's announcement said the decision was made “following talks with the king”. There seems highly likely that, privately, the royal household pushed for the move in the aim of distancing the institution from Andrew. Why Hasn’t He Been Officially Stripped of His Entire Honors? To forcibly remove a ducal title would require an act of parliament, and would constitute such a historic move publicly before the public – it has not happened to a high-ranking royal in over a century – that it could cause more harm to the image for the monarchy. Andrew is also still a prince. When he was born in 1960, he was automatically as the son of a monarch. This could only be altered if a letters patent was issued by the king. The whole process could end up being protracted, implying the goal of swiftly resolving the issue – at least for the monarchy's interests – may not be achieved. What Are the Implications for Andrew? Humiliation, probably more than anything else. The announcement signifies an effective loss of standing he has fought against for a long time. The prince and his former spouse, Sarah, still live in Royal Lodge, notwithstanding reported efforts by his brother to encourage his brother to move out of the thirty-room royal residence in Windsor Great Park. While little light has been revealed about the precise amount of funds the prince has obtained as a result of his position, he continues to be a person of means. In 2007, he was able to raise £15m from the sale of a property that had been a wedding present from the queen, as an instance. What Prompted This? The continual list of scandals related to the prince has become unacceptable for the king and other high-ranking family members. His association with the convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein has again in the headlines following revelations Andrew had told him “we share this situation” in a message dispatched months after he claimed to have ended communication. There have also been reports about his association with an alleged intelligence operative and, this week, excerpts were published from the book released after death of Giuffre, who took her own life in April. She claimed Andrew “thought that having sex with me was his entitlement”. Moreover, the sovereign is due to make a historic visit to meet Pope Leo next week, during which he will be the first English monarch after Henry the Eighth split with Rome in 1534 to worship openly with the Holy Father and leader of Catholicism. He will not have wanted that trip to be overshadowed by further adverse coverage about his brother. What Was the Response? While he said Giuffre had been “vindicated” by the decision, Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts informed the Times that Andrew’s honorary prince title ought to be removed for “genuine accountability” to be achieved. The republican campaign group Republic has also said the move is “too little, too late”, noting: “Andrew remains facing allegations of sexual offences and misuse of position. He should be stripped of all titles and his navy rank and should undergo a criminal investigation. Refraining from using archaic honors is not a punishment that matches the accusations.”