Prince Andrew-Epstein row: What royal titles did he give up and why?

Prince Andrew announced that he would give up using his title of Duke of York following the criticism of his alleged links with Jeffrey Epstein.

Updated on: Oct 18, 2025, 24:27:30 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Prince Andrew, on Friday, announced that he would give up using his title of Duke of York following the criticism of his alleged links with late sex-financier Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement, Andrew said "the continued accusations about me" distracted from the work of his elder brother King Charles and the wider work of the British royal family.

Prince Andrew looks round as he leaves after attending the Easter Matins Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, England (AP)

"I will therefore no longer use the title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me," Andrew said in a statement.

"As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew-Jeffrey Epstein accusations

Prince Andrew's alleged association with Epstein led to significant fallout for the royal family. In January 2022, following a US judge's ruling allowing a civil lawsuit against him by Virginia Giuffre (who alleged sexual assault when she was 17, claims Andrew denied), Andrew gave up several honors.

He relinquished his military affiliations, including roles as Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps, Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards, and Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Lossiemouth, among others. He also stepped away from over 200 royal patronages, such as those with universities, charities, and sports organizations like the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Outward Bound Trust.

These concessions were part of a Buckingham Palace statement, approved by Queen Elizabeth II, stating Andrew would continue not to undertake public duties and defend the case as a private citizen. The move came amid mounting public pressure and legal scrutiny over his Epstein ties, including Giuffre's suit (settled out of court in February 2022 for an undisclosed sum).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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