Prince Andrew, part of the British royal family, has decided to relinquish his royal title amid allegations of sexual abuse related to Virginia Giuffre, a victim of the late Jeffrey Epstein.
In a statement shared by ITV News royal editor Chris Shipp, Andrew mentioned that, with King Charles III’s agreement, he will no longer use his royal titles or any honors that have been awarded to him.
“After discussions with the King and my close family, I’ve realized that the ongoing accusations against me could distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” Prince Andrew expressed. “I’ve always wanted to prioritize my obligations to my family and country. I still stand by my decision from five years ago to step back from public life.”
He further stated that he would “no longer use my title or the honor received.”
According to a report from the New York Post, the announcement to give up Prince Andrew’s title coincided with excerpts from a memoir by Giuffre, where she alleges being forced into sexual encounters with him at Ghislaine Maxwell’s residence.
In excerpts published in the Guardian, Giuffre writes about being coerced into sexual acts with Prince Andrew at Maxwell’s home, describing him as acting entitled, as if it was his birthright.
Her book, Nobody’s Girl, details three occasions where she claims she had sexual relations with Andrew, including one instance at Maxwell’s London home in 2001 when she was just 17.
The report suggests that Andrew can continue living at the expansive 31-bedroom Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle and will keep his title as Prince Andrew, given that his late mother was Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on September 8, 2022.
The family of Giuffre, who tragically died by suicide in April, called Andrew’s abdication of his title a “vindication” for Virginia and other survivors.
“We, the family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, view Prince Andrew’s decision to give up his title as a vindication for our sister and other survivors globally,” they stated. “This decisive action is a significant step in our quest for justice against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s child trafficking network.”
Giuffre’s family also suggested to Charles III that Andrew’s status as a prince should be revoked.
Back in November 2019, a report by Breitbart News highlighted an interview where Prince Andrew claimed to have “no recollection of meeting” Giuffre, despite her recounting a dinner, dancing together, and an encounter in Belgravia, central London.
