London , 18 October (H.S.): In a landmark decision, Prince Andrew has relinquished his titles, most notably the Duke of York, amid unrelenting pressure over his connections to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a personal statement, the Prince explained the move was made in consultation with King Charles and the wider Royal Family, concluding that the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.

While he will remain a prince by birthright, he will no longer use the Duke of York title or the honours previously conferred upon him, including his membership in the prestigious Order of the Garter. This action completes his removal from public life, which began with his withdrawal from official duties and the loss of his military affiliations and His Royal Highness (HRH) styling.

His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also cease to be known as the Duchess of York.The decision follows years of intense scrutiny and a series of damaging revelations. The impending posthumous publication of a memoir by Virginia Giuffre—who accused Andrew of sexual assault and settled a civil case against him in 2022—has brought the matter to a head. Prince Andrew has consistently and vigorously denied the allegations .

Further pressure mounted from reports of emails suggesting he maintained contact with Epstein longer than he publicly admitted, as well as questions over his finances and association with an alleged Chinese spy .

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar