Prince Andrew Stripped Of York Honor Amid Calls For Him To Relinquish Duke Title

Topline

Prince Andrew was stripped of his Freedom of the City of York honor Wednesday, as councilors in the U.K. city called for him to relinquish his title as Duke of York, according to several reports, three months after the Queen’s son settled his sex assault lawsuit with accuser Virginia Giuffre.

Key Facts

The Freedom of the City of York honor, an “ambassadorial title” bestowed “on those who represent the very best of York,” was given to Andrew in 1987, and city councilor Darryl Smalley told The Independent before the vote that it’s “inappropriate” for Andrew to retain the title “that is intrinsically linked to our city” in the wake of his sex abuse settlement.

If Andrew “fails” to give up his title as the Duke of York, the Royal family must “step in to remove his title to finally end Prince Andrew’s connection to York,” Smalley said at the meeting, according to the BBC.

In order for Andrew’s Duke of York title to be removed, a statute would need to be passed by the House of Commons and the House of Lords, according to The Independent.

Andrew has denied assaulting Giuffre and did not admit to any wrongdoing when settling the civil suit.

Crucial Quote

“York’s unique connection to the crown and the monarch is an important part of our city’s legacy and history. However, as a council and city, we stand with victims of sexual abuse and are doing all we can to end violence against women and girls locally,” Smalley told The Independent before the vote.

Key Background

In January, Andrew, 62, was stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages with the approval of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. Buckingham Palace said he would also stop officially using “His Royal Highness.” Officials representing York have called for Andrew to drop his Duke Of York title for months. Andrew settled the civil case in February with Giuffre, who claimed he assaulted her several times, shortly after as it was ruled it could go to trial in the U.S. Giuffre has said she was trafficked by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, whom she settled a sex abuse lawsuit with in 2013, and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein died in prison in 2019 and Maxwell was found guilty of sex trafficking and other charges in December.

Tangent

Though Andrew stepped down from his royal duties in 2019 when his relationship with Epstein came under scrutiny, Andrew accompanied the queen to a memorial service for his father, Prince Philip, last month. It was his first public appearance since being stripped of his patronages and settling the lawsuit.

Further Reading

Queen Strips Prince Andrew Of Military Titles As Sex Abuse Trial Looms (Forbes)

Calls Rise To Strip Prince Andrew Of Title As Duke Of York (Forbes)

Prince Andrew To Face U.S. Civil Sex Assault Trial (Forbes)

Prince Andrew Settles Sexual Assault Lawsuit With Epstein Accuser Virginia Giuffre (Forbes)

Queen Elizabeth Makes First Public Appearance In Months As She Pays Tribute To Prince Philip (Forbes)