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Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Andrew has agreed to stop using his royal titles following new evidence of extended contact with Jeffrey Epstein. The revelation has reignited long-standing scandals that have plagued the British monarchy for years.
A Move to Protect the Monarchy
In a statement released Friday, Andrew said he would relinquish the use of his royal titles “to avoid distracting from His Majesty’s work.” The move reflects King Charles’s effort to insulate the institution from public outrage.
Constitutional expert Craig Prescott said Andrew’s misleading comments about his ties to Epstein crossed a critical line. “This was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” he noted.
Charles, now 76 and undergoing cancer treatment, wants to stabilize the monarchy’s future under Prince William. William recently said the royal family must change to remain a “force for good.” Prescott added that “Prince Andrew represents the opposite of that vision.”
Years of Controversy
Andrew’s fall began in 2019 after his disastrous BBC interview defending his friendship with Epstein. He denied allegations of sexual misconduct involving Virginia Giuffre, a 17-year-old victim trafficked by Epstein, but offered little empathy for her.
Emails from 2011 have now surfaced showing that Andrew stayed in touch with Epstein months after claiming to have severed ties. In one message, he wrote they were “in this together” and needed to “rise above it.”
These revelations follow new excerpts from Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, which renew the accusations. Her brother, Sky Roberts, told the BBC that Andrew’s surrender of his titles “vindicates Virginia.”
Mounting Pressure from the Palace
Royal commentators say King Charles and Prince William pushed Andrew to step aside. “He’s been forced onto his sword,” said Jennie Bond. “This wasn’t voluntary.”
Andrew will stop using the title Duke of York, though legally he still holds it. Officially stripping him of it would require a lengthy act of Parliament.
Restoring Royal Integrity
Charles’s swift decision comes ahead of a delicate Vatican visit, where he plans to meet Pope Leo XIV. Experts say the king wanted to protect both Queen Camilla’s campaign against domestic violence and the Duchess of Edinburgh’s advocacy for victims of sexual assault.
“The royal family needed to separate itself completely,” Prescott said. “Now, any new scandal will fall solely on Prince Andrew, not the monarchy.”
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