Prince William took an active role in the decision that saw Prince Andrew relinquish his titles, a royal author has claimed.
On Friday, King Charles’s brother announced he would no longer use the title Duke of York in a Buckingham Palace statement.
Andrew will also give up his membership of the Order of the Garter but will remain a prince, as he remains the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
He will also legally remain the Duke of York, as to fully revoke the title would require an act of Parliament, but will no longer be known by it or use it personally.
In a statement, Andrew declared he would "put my duty to my family and country first" and step back amid "continued accusations" against him.
Following the announcement, the Prince of Wales has been said to have been a key voice in the decision by royal historian Andrew Lownie.
Mr Lownie was the author of the unauthorised biography of Prince Andrew Entitled, which was published in August and made a series of explosive claims about the royal.
The author shared his belief that Andrew "certainly hasn't driven" the move to surrender his titles.
Prince William is siad to have been ‘behind Prince Andrew’s demotion’ by royal author Andrew Lownie
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"I mean, if he were thinking of his family, as he claims, he would have done something like this many years ago. It's not really coming from King Charles either," he explained.
To that end, Mr Lownie believed that it would have been Prince William pushing for the demotion.
"It's coming from William and the Government, I understand, who felt that this was a distraction from the wider work of the royal family," the historian told the BBC.
GB News understands that the Prince of Wales was among those consulted on the decision.
However, the commentator felt that the story was not yet over and that further allegations against Prince Andrew may yet emerge.
"I think there's much more still to come out. And I think that was what was worrying them that they were best to distance themselves before, before these new allegations arose," Mr Lownie said.
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Mr Lownie belived the Prince of Wales felt his uncle had become a 'distraction from the wider work of the royal family'
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In a statement released on Friday evening, 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."
"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.
Andrew has stepped back amid intense public scrutiny
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"As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me," he concluded.
The decision for Andrew to step away from his title also means that his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, will no longer use her title as Duchess of York.
Their daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, will retain their titles as princesses as they are granddaughters of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Friday’s decision comes amid huge public pressure on Andrew relating to his former relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
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