Prince Andrew offers up his royal titles in fallout from Jeffrey Epstein scandal

Britain’s Prince Andrew won’t use his royal titles, together with the Duke of York, any longer, he mentioned in a press release launched by Buckingham Palace on Friday. The announcement comes after the discharge of excerpts from a posthumous memoir by Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who had repeatedly claimed to have been sexually trafficked by the late financier to Andrew.

“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, the youthful brother of King Charles III, mentioned within the assertion. “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.”

He continued: “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.” 

Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, sued Andrew in 2021, alleging that he compelled her to have interaction in sexual acts in opposition to her will when she was 17 years outdated. The two reached an out-of-court settlement in 2022. Andrew has denied the allegations. 

In a press release to CBS News, Guiffre’s household mentioned they imagine Prince Andrew’s determination to surrender his royal titles is “vindication for our sister and survivors everywhere.” They known as on Charles to strip him of the title of prince.

“This moment serves as victory for Virginia, who consistently maintained, ‘He knows what happened, I know what happened, and there’s only one of us telling the truth, and I know that’s me,'” the assertion mentioned. “This is not just a victory for her, but for every single survivor of the horrific crimes perpetrated by Epstein and his co-conspirators.”

Giuffre was one of the crucial vocal accusers of Epstein, a convicted intercourse offender, and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was discovered responsible of serving to Epstein groom, recruit and sexually abuse underage women. Giuffre alleged Maxwell linked her with Epstein, which Maxwell denies.

In an excerpt of her memoir published by The Guardian, Giuffre describes her alleged encounters with Andrew intimately. 

“He was friendly enough, but still entitled — as if he believed having sex with me was his birthright,” she wrote. “The next morning, Maxwell told me: ‘You did well. The prince had fun.’ Epstein would give me $15,000 for servicing the man the tabloids called ‘Randy Andy.'”

Andrew, as soon as second in line to the British throne, has lengthy been a supply of tabloid fodder due to his hyperlinks to Epstein, different questionable characters and cash woes.

His try to refute Giuffre’s allegations backfired throughout a November 2019 BBC interview. Viewers noticed a prince who proffered curious rebuttals — similar to disputing Giuffre’s recollection of sweaty dancing by saying he was medically incapable of perspiring — and confirmed no empathy for the ladies who mentioned Epstein abused them.

Within days of the interview, Andrew stepped down from his royal duties. 

As nicely as not being referred to as the Duke of York, Andrew may also hand over different titles: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

He will stay a prince, which he has been entitled to since delivery.