🔗 Share this article Why Prince Andrew Has Surrendered His Royal Honors – and the Implications for the Monarchy In a statement issued by the royal household, the king's brother has declared that he will be relinquishing his official honors, such as his dukedom. Below is an overview of what has been announced – and what remains unchanged. What Has Andrew Announced? After previously stepped down as a working royal in 2019, the prince has now decided to “go a step further” and agree to refrain from using the “title or the awards which have been granted to” him. However, he employed the announcement to make a point of rejecting – as he has always done – the allegations of misconduct made against him; albeit having paid out millions to settle the civil sexual assault case filed by Virginia Giuffre – a settlement in which he admitted no liability and strongly rejected any claims of wrongdoing. There has been persistent pressure on the monarchy regarding the allegations against Andrew – especially since his ill-fated television appearance with Emily Maitlis in 2019. He presently states he is acting to protect his relatives from additional harm caused by public speculation. Has the King Removed Him of His Honors? Not at all. And, while this might be viewed as a simple procedure, it is significant in multiple ways: first, it allows Andrew to publicly claim to have acted honourably in support of the crown. As stated in his announcement: “I have chosen, consistent with my past, to put my duty to my family and country first.” Additionally, although he consented to abstain from using it, the prince keeps the dukedom, along with the honors the Earl of Inverness and his barony and the esteemed position as Royal Knight Companion of the prestigious order. Like the HRH His Royal Highness honorific, they essentially become inactive. He continues to be royalty and eighth in the line of succession. Theoretically, he remains a potential stand-in for the monarch – and can stand in for the king if he is abroad or unwell. Although royal officials has indicated that, realistically, he would not be asked to fulfil this role. Nonetheless, it is telling that the prince's announcement said the decision was made “following talks with the king”. It appears highly likely that, behind the scenes, the royal household advocated for the move in the hope of distancing the institution from Andrew. Why Was He Not Formally Stripped of All of His Titles? To revoke a ducal title would require legislative action, and would constitute such a historic move publicly before the public – it has not occurred to a senior royal in more than 100 years – that it would likely cause more reputational damage for the royals. Andrew is also still a prince. At his birth in 1960, he became as the son of a monarch. This would only be changed if a royal decree was issued by the king. The whole process might ultimately being drawn-out, implying the objective of swiftly resolving the issue – particularly for the royal family’s purposes – would not necessarily be met. What Does It Mean for the Prince? Humiliation, likely above all. The statement signifies an substantial reduction of standing he has fought against for a long time. He and his ex-wife, Sarah, continue to reside in their Windsor residence, notwithstanding reported efforts by the king to encourage Andrew to relocate of the 30-room Crown Estate property in Windsor Great Park. Although limited information has been shed on the precise amount of funds Andrew has received as a result of his position, he remains a wealthy individual. In 2007, he managed to raise £15m from the sale of a property that had been a wedding present from his mother, as an instance. Why Now? The seemingly endless list of scandals involving Andrew has become unacceptable for the monarch and other high-ranking family members. His friendship with the convicted sex criminal Jeffrey Epstein is once again under scrutiny after it emerged that the prince stated to him “we share this situation” in an email dispatched months after he claimed to have ended communication. Additionally, there were reports about his connections with an alleged intelligence operative and, this week, excerpts appeared from the book released after death of Giuffre, who died by suicide in April. She claimed Andrew “thought that having sex with me was his entitlement”. Moreover, the king is scheduled to make a historic visit to meet Pope Leo soon, during which he will be the first English monarch since Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church in 1534 to worship openly with the pope and head of the Catholic church. He will not have wanted that visit to be marred by more negative headlines about his brother. What Was the Reaction? While he said his sister had been “justified” by the move, Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts informed a newspaper that the prince's style ought to be removed for “genuine accountability” to be achieved. The republican advocacy organization Republic has additionally stated the action is “too little, too late”, noting: “Andrew remains facing allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of office. He ought to be stripped of every honor and his navy rank and should undergo a legal probe. Not using archaic honors is not a punishment that fits the offences.”