PRINCE Andrew has tonight been STRIPPED of his royal title and all military honours after a face-to-face showdown with the Queen.
The bombshell news was announced by Buckingham Palace this evening and comes amid growing anger at the Duke of York’s sex assault lawsuit.
His military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen with immediate effect after he was accused of sexually assaulting Virginia Roberts Giuffre when she was just 17.
The Duke will also no longer be able to use ‘His Royal Highness’ – and will face his US lawsuit as a “private citizen” meaning he can’t hide behind royal privileges.
It comes after a judge sensationally gave the go-ahead for a civil trial before a jury in New York later this year.
The royal vehemently denies any wrongdoing.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement this evening: “With The Queen’s approval and agreement, The Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen.
“The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.”
Andrew will now no longer use ‘His Royal Highness’ in any official capacity – which puts him in the same position as Prince Harry.
According to a source, the decision was “widely discussed amongst the royal family” and all of his titles have been returned with immediate effect.
In time they will be redistributed to other family members, according to a royal source.
An insider close to the Duke insisted he would continue to defend himself against the allegations.
The source said: “Given the robustness with which Judge Kaplan greeted our arguments, we are unsurprised by the ruling.
“However, it was not a judgement on the merits of Ms Giuffre’s allegations.
“This is a marathon not a sprint and the Duke will continue to defend himself against these claims.”
The Queen cuts Andrew adrift…
- Prince Andrew has been stripped of his military titles
- He will no longer be able to use ‘His Royal Highness’ in any official capacity
- The decision was approved by the Queen – but discussed ‘widely with the Royal Family’
Andrew’s titles have been suspended since he stepped down from public duties in 2019 amid fury at his friendship with paedo Jeffrey Epstein.
But until today, the duke retained his roles – which left eight British regiments in limbo more than two years on.
His honours included Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, Honorary air commodore of RAF Lossiemouth and Deputy colonel-in-chief of The Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeth’s Own).
Andrew had not attended a single military event since he stepped back from royal duties two years ago.
Earlier today, veterans from the Royal Navy, RAF and Army called for Andrew’s military honours to be taken away.
The 152 ex-services personnel have signed an open letter to the Queen, which was released through anti-monarchy group Republic.
They have described their “upset and anger” at Andrew keeping his titles as his position is “untenable”.
The group also say the royal has brought the services he is associated with into disrepute and “were this any other senior military officer it is inconceivable that he would still be in post”.
They add: “Please do not leave it any longer.”
ONE IS NOT AMUSED
Prince Andrew denies claims Giuffre was forced to have sex him more than 20 years ago at Ghislaine Maxwell’s London home when she was just 17.
Her allegations have dogged Andrew since she first made them in 2011, when a now infamous photograph emerged of him with his hand around her.
Giuffre’s feared lawyer David Boies will grill the royal in front of jurors under oath – and could also question Andrew’s former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, and their daughter Princess Beatrice.
The ruling is the latest setback for Andrew, who has tried to disassociate himself from Maxwell and her paedo ex Jeffrey Epstein.
