Prince William consulted by King as Prince Andrew relinquishes use of royal titles

Marcus Donaldson

By Marcus Donaldson


Published: 17/10/2025

- 20:25

Updated: 17/10/2025

- 22:15

Prince Andrew has said he made his decision to 'put my duty to my family and country first'

Prince William was consulted by King Charles on the decision of Prince Andrew to give up the use of his royal titles, GB News understands.

In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, the monarch's younger brother announced his decision amid "continued accusations" against him.


The Prince of Wales was among those consulted on the move, which will see his uncle no longer known as the Duke of York.

Andrew will also surrender his membership of the Order of the Garter. However, he will remain a prince as he is the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

In a Buckingham Palace statement, 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.

Prince Andrew, Prince William

Prince William was consulted by King in descsion for Prince Andrew to relinquish his royal titles

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"As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me," he concluded.

William's cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their title as princess despite their father's decision, as they remain granddaughters of the late Queen Elizabeth II, GB News understands.

Their father will also remain a prince as he is the son of the former monarch.

Andrew's decision comes amid intense public scrutiny concerning his former relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Andrew

Prince Andrew will no longer be known as the Duke of York

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Last weekend, reports emerged that claimed Prince Andrew told Jeffrey Epstein they were "in this together" the day after a picture of him with Virginia Giuffre was published in 2011.

The Duke of York had previously said he severed all communication with the disgraced financier in December 2010.

However, the newly leaked correspondence appeared to show the duke writing to Epstein on February 28, 2011.

In the message, Prince Andrew stated they were "in this together" and would need to "rise above it", suggesting ongoing contact between the pair.

The email cast fresh doubt over the duke’s previous public statements regarding the timeline of his association with Epstein.

The exchange occurred the day following publication of a photograph showing the duke with his arm around Ms Giuffre at Ghislaine Maxwell's London residence.

Prince Andrew

The move comes amid intense public scrutiny over his former relationship with Jeffrey Epstein

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The photograph in question is of Prince Andrew alongside Virginia Giuffre when she was 17 years old, taken at the Belgravia home of socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.

During his 2019 Newsnight interview with the BBC, the Duke rejected Ms Giuffre's account, stating the London meeting "never happened".

He suggested the image might have been falsified, telling the broadcaster: "Nobody can prove whether or not that photograph has been doctored but I don't recollect that photograph ever being taken."

In February 2022, Prince Andrew reached a financial agreement to resolve the civil proceedings Ms Giuffre had initiated in the United States, though the Duke did not accept liability.

Andrew has always strongly denied the allegations made against him by Ms Giuffre.