LONDON (AP) — He no longer calls himself a duke, but that’s not enough for Prince Andrew’s many critics.
Buckingham Palace and the British government were under pressure to formally strip it on Monday. prince andrew About his princely title and luxurious home after new revelations about his relationship with a convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
As a result of my discussion with my brother, king charles iii, Andrew agreed on Friday to stop using it. He earned titles such as Duke of York. It was the latest effort to protect the monarchy from years of rule. cheap headline About Andrew suspicious transactions, Inappropriate behavior and controversial friendships.
However, formally he still holds the title of duke, which was bestowed on him by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. And as the son of a monarch, he remains a prince.
Mr Andrew’s statement relinquishing some of his royal titles was released after emails were leaked showing Mr Andrew had been in contact with Mr Epstein for longer than he previously admitted, and just days before the publication of a posthumous memoir by Epstein’s accusers. virginia roberts giuffreclaimed to have had a sexual relationship with Andrew when he was 17 years old.
Giuffre’s brother, Skye Roberts, urged the king to go further and “remove his title of prince as well.”
“He shouldn’t call himself that person,” Roberts told the Times of London.
civil lawsuit
Andrew (65 years old) has been for a long time denied Giuffre’s claimsbut retired from royal duties After a disastrous interview with the BBC in November 2019 in which she tried to refute her claims.
Many viewers saw the capable prince show no sympathy for Epstein’s victims and give an unbelievable explanation of his friendship with the deceased sex offender.
Andrew paid millions of dollars out-of-court settlement in 2022 after Mr. Giuffre filed a civil suit against him in New York.
Although he denied wrongdoing, he acknowledged Giuffre’s suffering as a victim of sex trafficking.
“Anger and surprise”
Some opposition politicians argued that Mr Andrew should be formally stripped of his duchy title through an Act of Parliament.
Scottish National Party MP Stephen Flynn said the government should use the bill to strip Mr Andrew and both men of their titles. peter mandelsona member of the House of Lords who was removed as British ambassador to Washington in September over his past friendship with Epstein.
“The family of Virginia Giuffre, whose life was destroyed, is angry and appalled,” Flynn said. “The people of these islands are angry and appalled, and they should know that some (members of Congress) share that anger.”
The government said it supported the Palace’s decision on Mr Andrew’s title but should not act unilaterally. Under Britain’s constitutional monarchy, the royal family does not interfere in politics and politicians do not get involved in matters related to the royal family.
“While our thoughts are with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims and those who have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of abuse at his hands, these are royal matters,” Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told the BBC.
Others are calling for Andrew to be evicted from Royal Lodge, the 30-room mansion near Windsor Castle where he lives with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who is no longer known as the Duchess of York.
Questions have been raised about how Mr Andrew pays for the house, which he rents on a long-term lease from the Crown Estate, a portfolio of properties that the Crown nominally owns but does not manage.
Royals brace for more revelations
Just as the King is bracing for more embarrassing revelations, the palace is bracing for more. State visit to the Vatican This week he is to pray next to Pope Leo XIV.
Giuffre’s book, Nobody’s Girl, was published on Tuesday and details three alleged sexual encounters with Andrew. She died in April at the age of 41 by suicide.
In excerpts released in advance, Giuffre said the prince acted as if he believed it was his “birthright to have sex with me.”
Giuffre also claims in the book that Andrew’s team “tried to hire internet trolls to embarrass me.” Mr Andrew said the lawsuit settlement included a one-year gag order to prevent any allegations that would tarnish the late queen’s platinum jubilee in 2022.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police said it was “actively investigating” media reports that Andrew asked one of his police bodyguards in 2011 if Giuffre had a criminal record and asked for information that would disparage Giuffre.