Prince Andrew steps down as Duke of York amid Epstein turmoil

Britain's Prince Andrew (65), younger brother of King Charles, will no longer use his title “Duke of York.” This decision comes amid ongoing allegations about his connections to the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew said on Friday that the “ongoing allegations” were distracting from the work of the king and the royal family. With his brother's consent, he will therefore renounce his titles and honors. At the same time, he emphasized that he continues to strongly reject the allegations.

Prince Andrew had already stepped back from public life in 2019. In 2022, he lost his military honorary positions and royal patronages after Virginia Giuffre accused him of sexual exploitation as a minor.

Although he always denied the allegations, he reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre, who died in April. Her recently published memoirs brought the case back into the headlines.

According to a YouGov poll, two-thirds of Britons support the revocation of his titles. Andrew will nevertheless remain a prince and continue to live at Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle, but will no longer participate in traditional family gatherings. His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson will also lose the title “Duchess of York.”

(reuters, est)