Prince Andrew, who was previously stripped of his military roles, has now relinquished his royal titles following renewed allegations tied to his association with the late convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
While much focus has been placed on his loss of the Duke of York title, there are several lesser-known royal titles he has also forfeited—some of which may come as a surprise.
Andrew’s Formal Statement on Stepping Back
In a statement published on the Royal Family’s official website, Andrew declared, “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. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
The End of the Duke and Duchess of York
Prince Andrew and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, have long been referred to as the Duke and Duchess of York, despite their divorce nearly two decades ago. Now, with Andrew no longer permitted to use the Duke of York title, Sarah Ferguson also loses her corresponding duchess title.
This decision marks the end of both individuals being formally styled under these well-known titles.
Additional Titles Being Removed
Beyond his English dukedom, Prince Andrew is also giving up two other titles traditionally awarded to senior royals upon marriage—one from Scotland and one from Ireland. These lesser-known titles are:
- Earl of Inverness (Scotland)
- Baron Killyleagh (Ireland)
When Andrew and Sarah married in 1986, they received all three titles, as is customary. Although they divorced ten years later, Sarah retained her titles in name only. Now, both her Scottish and Irish titles—Countess of Inverness and Baroness Killyleagh—are also no longer valid.
What Remains for the Next Generation
While Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson have lost their formal royal styles and titles, their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will retain their official status. Both will continue to hold the title of “Her Royal Highness,” as that designation is theirs by birth and not dependent on their father’s titles.