Queen will not remove Prince Andrew’s Duke of York title after sex abuse settlement and people aren't happy

Royal fans are calling on the Queen to strip Prince Andrew of his Duke of York title

Why Queen will not remove Prince Andrew’s Duke of York title
(Image credit: Getty)

The Queen will not strip Prince Andrew of his Duke of York title following his recent sex abuse settlement—and royal fans aren't having it. 


The Queen will not revoke Prince Andrew's 'Duke of York' title, a royal expert has claimed. 

Her Majesty is facing intense pressure to scrap the 61-year-old's noble moniker, which she granted him in 1986, in light of his high-profile sexual assault scandal. 

The public has repeatedly called for the British monarch to remove the dukedom, with many folks arguing that the retired naval officer is no longer worthy to hold the peerage. 

Prince Andrew's sex abuse case was settled on Monday after he reached an out-of-court financial agreement with his accuser, Virginia Giuffre. 

The Australian-American campaigner, who was one of the most prominent survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring, alleged in 2019 that the Duke committed 'sexual assault and battery' against her when she was 17. 

Virginia Roberts holds a photo of herself at age 16, when she says Palm Beach multimillionaire Jeffrey Epstein began abusing her sexually.

Virginia Giuffre accused Prince Andrew of sexual assaulting her when she was 17 

(Image credit: Emily Michot/Miami Herald/Tribune/Getty Images)

She went on to sue Prince Andrew for damages in a US civil case, which would have gone to trial in autumn 2022 had no settlement been reached. The Duke vehemently denied Giuffre's allegations, insisting that he had 'no recollection' of ever meeting her—despite being photographed with her in 2001. 

Royal fans are now calling for the second youngest of the Queen's children to be stripped of his remaining title. Prince Andrew was stripped of his military honors and patronages last month, but continues to be formally known as the Duke of York. 

Queen and Prince Andrew

(Image credit: Getty)

Her Majesty gave her son the title—which was previously held by her father, George VI—when he married Sarah Ferguson in 1986. Calls are now mounting for the Queen to remove the dukedom in light of the recent scandal. 

It's been widely reported that Her Majesty has no intention of doing so—a development that has, unsurprisingly, exacerbated the public's outrage.

 Many people may not be aware, however, that the Queen alone does not have the legal right to remove titles of the peerage. 

"As I understand it, it does have to be an act of parliament that revokes his title," the  It's an ancient Dukedom," royal expert Emily Andrews explained. 

"Perhaps the Queen could ask him not to use it in the same way that she's put his HRH His Royal Highness title in abeyance." 

It's unlikely, however, she will make this request. "I can't see her doing that he is still her favorite son despite everything that's happened and it was a personal gift from her to him," Andrews added. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.