The Scottish National Party has pushed to compel Sir Keir Starmer's Government to formally strip Prince Andrew of all his royal titles in response to a “stubbornly slow” response to the scandals surrounding him.
Last week, the younger brother of King Charles surrendered the use of his title as Duke of York, among others, amid mounting public scrutiny on his relationship to Jeffrey Epstein and connections to China.
In the statement released on Friday, October 17, Andrew said he would "put my duty to my family and country first" and give up the use of his ducal title amid "continued accusations" against him.
However, he has only relinquished the use of those titles and legally remains the Duke of York as a formal revocation would require an Act of Parliament.
Following a weekend of further accusations against the embattled royal, the SNP has decided to lodge a parliamentary motion that would force ministers to remove his dukedom with immediate effect.
Announcing the move, SNP MP Stephen Flynn said: "If the Westminster parties remain stubbornly slow in removing Prince Andrew’s titles the SNP will do all we can to force them to act."
"Prince Andrew's titles can only be removed by an act of parliament – therefore this SNP motion is a way to pile pressure on the UK Labour government to bring forward that legislation immediately.
"The only real question is, what Keir Starmer's government is waiting for? The public knows this is the right thing to do, and even more importantly the victims at the heart of the Epstein scandal know that it's the right thing to do. It needs to be done without any further excuses and any further delay.
Prince Andrew surrendered the use of his royal titles on Friday evening
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"Those implicated in the Epstein scandal have been able to escape justice because they have hidden behind their power and privilege," he suggested.
Mr Flynn added that if the Labour Government chose not to act, it would be choosing to "sit on their hands" regarding the issue.
However, the Cabinet Office reiterated its position that: "Prince Andrew has already confirmed he will not use his titles and we support the judgement made by The King."
But York Central MP Rachael Maskell, who lost the Labour Whip in July, also called for Parliament to act on Prince Andrew.
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The SNP have now lodged a Parlimentary motion to formally strip Andrew of his titles
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"Having sought to change the law through my Removal of Titles Bill, I now think it is time for this legislation, which provides the King new powers to be able to remove titles or for a grand committee of both Houses of Parliament to make a recommendation to the King to remove a title," she said.
"I have long called for the title of the Duke of York to be removed in the light that it carries an ambassadorial association with our city," Ms Maskell explained.
"York is England’s only UN Human Rights City and stands for a higher set of values and when polled, 80 per cent of York residents voted for the removal of the title," the Labour MP added.
On Monday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the question of legislation to formally remove Prince Andrew’s titles was "a matter for the palace in the first instance".
He informed that ministers would "support the judgment of the King" regarding Andrew’s titles.
"The Prime Minister’s thoughts are very much with the victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein who suffered and continue to suffer," the spokesman added.
On Sunday, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: "I think the royal family have said that they didn’t want to take up parliamentary time with this; there are lots of other things that Parliament is discussing, I think it’s right he’s given up his title."
In a statement released on Friday evening, Prince Andrew said: "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."
Andrew is facing intense public scrutiny amid multiple scandals, most centring on his former relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
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"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," he concluded.
This week, the late accuser of Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre, released a posthumous memoir detailing her experience with Jeffrey Epstein including claims about the Prince.
He has always strongly denied the allegations made against him by Ms Giuffre.