Why Prince Andrew is Giving Up His Royal Honors – and What It Means for the Royal Family
Through a announcement released via Buckingham Palace, the king's brother has declared that he will be giving up his official honors, such as his dukedom. Here are the details of what was revealed – and what wasn't.
What Did the Prince Announced?
After previously stepped down as a working royal in 2019, the prince has now decided to “go a step further” and consent not to use the “title or the awards which have been granted to” him.
However, he used the statement to emphatically rejecting – as he has always done – the accusations of misconduct leveled at him; even though having paid out millions to settle the legal claim brought by Virginia Giuffre – a settlement in which he accepted no fault and firmly denied any claims of wrongdoing.
There has existed ongoing scrutiny toward the royal institution regarding the claims involving the prince – particularly after his disastrous television appearance with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He now claims he is acting to safeguard the royal family from additional harm resulting from public speculation.
Has the King Stripped Him of His Honors?
Not at all. And, while this could be dismissed as a simple procedure, it holds importance in multiple ways: initially, it enables the prince to publicly claim to have behaved with integrity in defence of the crown. As he said in his announcement: “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my relatives and country first.”
Second, although he consented not to use it, the prince keeps his ducal title, as well as the titles the Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh and the esteemed Garter role as a member of the prestigious order. Similar to the royal style title, they are effectively inactive.
He continues to be a prince and eighth in succession to the throne. Theoretically, he is also a potential stand-in for the monarch – and may deputize for the king if he is overseas or unwell. However royal officials has indicated that, realistically, he will not be asked to fulfil this role.
Nevertheless, it is significant that the prince's announcement said the decision was made “in discussion with the monarch”. It appears highly likely that, privately, the royal household pushed for this in the aim of distancing the institution from Andrew.
Why Hasn’t He Formally Stripped of His Entire Honors?
To forcibly remove a ducal title would require an act of parliament, and would represent an unprecedented step in full view of the nation – it has not occurred to a high-ranking royal in over a century – that it would likely cause more harm to the image for the royals.
Andrew is also still a prince. At his birth in 1960, he became as the child of the sovereign. This could only be altered if a letters patent was enacted by the reigning monarch.
The whole process might ultimately being drawn-out, meaning the goal of quickly addressing the issue – particularly for the royal family’s purposes – would not necessarily be achieved.
What Does It Mean for Andrew?
Embarrassment, probably more than anything else. The announcement signifies an substantial reduction of status he has resisted for years.
The prince and his former spouse, Sarah, continue to reside in Royal Lodge, notwithstanding rumoured attempts by his brother to encourage his brother to move out of the 30-room royal residence in the Windsor estate.
While little light has been revealed about the precise amount of funds the prince has obtained as a result of his status, he remains a wealthy individual. Back in 2007, he was able to raise £15m by selling a property that had been a gift from his mother, as an instance.
What Prompted This?
The seemingly endless series of controversies related to the prince has proved unacceptable for the monarch and other high-ranking family members.
His association with the jailed child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has again under scrutiny following revelations Andrew had told him “we are in this together” in an email dispatched months after he claimed to have ended communication.
There have also been stories about his connections with a suspected intelligence operative and, this week, excerpts appeared from the book released after death of Giuffre, who died by suicide in April. She alleged the prince “believed that having sex with me was his entitlement”.
Furthermore, the sovereign is due to undertake a significant trip to meet Pope Leo next week, when he will become the first English monarch after Henry the Eighth split with Rome in 1534 to worship openly with the pope and head of the Catholic church. He will not have wanted that trip to be marred by further adverse coverage about Andrew.
What Was the Reaction?
While he said his sister had been “vindicated” by the decision, her sibling Sky Roberts has told the Times that the prince's style should be revoked for “genuine accountability” to be done.
The anti-monarchist campaign group Republic has also said the move is “insufficient and delayed”, adding: “The prince continues to be accused of sexual misconduct and misuse of position. He should be stripped of every honor and his military position and should face a legal probe. Refraining from using silly medieval titles is not a penalty that fits the offences.”
