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Following criticism over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, has declared that he will no longer use his royal title or honours on October 17, 2025. His announcement means that even his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will lose her Duchess of York title. However, their daughters' titles will not be affected.
In the statement released by Buckingham Palace, Prince Andrew revealed that the decision came after "in-depth discussions" with his brother, King Charles III, and other royal family members in a statement issued by Buckingham Palace:
"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.”
Prince Andrew 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."
This also means that he is stepping down from holding titles Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and Royal Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter. As the son of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew will no longer use the title of Duke of York, but he will still be recognised as a royal by birthright.
Even though Prince Andrew has maintained that he "vigorously denies the accusations,” the announcement came after renewed attention on Epstein.
Prince Andrew had first stepped down from his public duties in 2019, after a BBC Newsnight interview about his connections to Epstein. The late Queen had stripped him of his royal patronages and military titles in 2022.
Sarah Ferguson, ex-wife of Prince Andrew
Sarah Ferguson, also called Fergie and the former Duchess of York, has stated that she as well will no longer hold the title of duchess in any formal capacity. Ferguson will now use "Sarah Ferguson" in all facets of her life, even though she has long used it professionally.
She married Prince Andrew in July 1986 at Westminster Abbey. Princess Diana is said to have developed the couple's romance by reintroducing them at a royal event. Due to Andrew's naval commitments, they split up in 1992 and then divorced in 1996. Though the pair have been close ever since.
The ex-couple still lives together at Windsor's Royal Lodge, where they co-parented their two daughters and still go to royal family functions together.
In an interview with an Australian radio station in 2016, she said:
"We're very happy with the way things are. I think the great thing is we absolutely are the most extraordinary example of a unified family,"
More about their daughters
Princess Beatrice
The eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson was born on 8 August 1988, and is now ranked ninth in line for the British throne. She is currently Vice President of Partnerships & Strategy at the software business Afiniti, having earned a degree in history from Goldsmiths, University of London.
She then got married to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, an Italian nobleman and real estate entrepreneur, in a small ceremony held at All Saints Chapel in Windsor Great Park on July 17, 2020. After the marriage, she also holds Italian titles “Contessa” and “Nobile Donna.”
They now have two daughters, Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, born in September 2021, and Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, born in January 2025. Beatrice is also the stepmother to Christopher "Wolfie" Woolf, Mozzi's son from a previous relationship.
She continues to be engaged in charitable works, most recently being appointed as the royal patron of the Chartered College of Teaching, a position her grandfather, the late Prince Philip, had previously held, as well as the role of Counsellor of State under her uncle King Charles.
Princess Eugenie
Princess Eugenie Victoria Helena was born on 23 March 1990, making her the 12th in line for the throne. Eugenie has been candid about her personal struggles, such as having an eight-hour spine operation to treat scoliosis when she was twelve years old. She has subsequently used her experience to advocate for medical problems and body positivity.
After graduating from Newcastle University, she worked as a director at Hauser & Wirth, an art gallery in London. She shares her sister's strong commitment to charitable causes and co-founded The Anti-Slavery Collective, a group dedicated to preventing human trafficking and contemporary slavery.
On 12 October 2018, Eugenie wed Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle's St. George's Chapel. The duo had met while attending University, and married after dating for 7 years.
They are now parents to August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, born in February 2021, and Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank, born in May 2023.
The sisters lived a more private life than their cousins, Prince William and Prince Harry, but they still performed their royal duties and attended events.
Stay tuned to Soap Central for more information.
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