Prince Andrew Drops Royal Titles Amid Epstein Controversy—Here’s What He’ll Be Called Now

Prince Andrew’s in the headlines again, and it’s not for anything good. The royal has officially decided to ditch several of his titles after years of heat over his connection to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender. New documents, including flight logs and emails, have turned up the pressure, and it seems Buckingham Palace is ready to put some distance between the monarchy and this mess.

On Friday, Andrew released a statement that basically said, “Look, I’ve talked it over with King Charles and the family, and we all agree the constant accusations are a distraction from the monarchy’s work.

I stepped back from public life five years ago, and now I’m going further. I’m done using my titles and honors.” He’s still denying all the allegations against him, as he’s done from the start.

So, what’s he giving up? The big ones are Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killyleagh, plus fancy honors like Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

Technically, stripping the dukedom would need an Act of Parliament, but Andrew’s promised not to use it anymore. That said, he’ll still hold onto the title of Prince—because he’s Queen Elizabeth II’s son, and that’s not something you can just toss out without some major constitutional drama.

Oh, and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson? She’s dropping her Duchess of York title too and will just go by Sarah Ferguson from now on. Their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, aren’t affected, though—they keep their titles.

Why Now? The Epstein Connection Keeps Haunting Him

The timing isn’t random. Virginia Giuffre, who passed away in April, accused Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was 17, claiming in her memoir Nobody’s Girl that he thought it was his “birthright.” Her family’s been vocal, saying Andrew’s decision to drop his titles is a win for “our sister and survivors everywhere.” They’re even pushing for King Charles to take away his Prince title, though that’s a long shot.

Andrew’s always denied the allegations and settled a U.S. civil lawsuit with Giuffre for a reported £12 million (about $16 million) without admitting any wrongdoing. But new details keep stirring the pot. Flight logs show he took Epstein’s private jet at least four times, including a 2006 trip from Luton to Edinburgh with Ghislaine Maxwell onboard. Emails from 2019 also hint he was still in touch with Epstein, even after that disastrous 2011 BBC Newsnight interview where he tried to downplay their friendship.

A Royal Fall From Grace

Andrew’s already lost his military titles, charity roles, and the HRH designation, but giving up these honors is the biggest hit yet. It’s like the monarchy’s saying, “Enough is enough.” While he’ll still be called Prince Andrew, this move screams that the royals want to wash their hands of the Epstein scandal once and for all.

It’s wild to think how far this has gone. From royal duties to being persona non grata in the public eye, Andrew’s story is one of the messiest chapters in modern royal history. And honestly, it’s hard to see how he bounces back from this.