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Prince Andrew announced he will immediately stop using titles and honors, including the Duke of York, in a statement released on Friday (October 17).
Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, has received public backlash over his past relationship with late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and was named in a lawsuit by an late Epstein abuse survivor.
"In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family," Prince Andrew said. "I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.
"With His Majesty's agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me."
Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also no longer be known as the Duchess of York following his decision. Andrew initially stepped back from his public duties in 2019 and later royal patronages in January 2022 after his lawyers failed to have a lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre accusing him of sexual abuse dismissed.
Andrew later paid Giuffre, who claimed the alleged sexual abuse took place when she was 17 and later died by suicide at the age of 41, a substantial sum, but has repeatedly denied the allegation publicly.