Prince Andrew ‘right’ to drop Duke of York title, York MP says

A York MP has welcomed the news Prince Andrew will no longer use his Duke of York title, but has called for it to be removed altogether.

Prince Andrew said he was giving up the title due to the “continued accusations” around his links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, though said he continued to “vigorously deny” the allegations.

Rachael Maskell, independent MP for York Central, said people in York had been calling for him to stop using the title since the “murky matters” first came to light, but said legislation was needed to deal with future instances.

Speaking to the BBC she said: “We need to ensure that we close that chapter by ensuring in the future those titles can be removed.”

In a statement Prince Andrew said he would “no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred against me”.

“The continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” he said.

“I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.”

Prince Andrew said he continued to “vigorously” deny the accusations against him, including claims he had sex with Virginia Giuffre in 2001 when she was 17 years old.

He stopped using the style “His Royal Highness” in 2022 amid a civil case from the late Ms Giuffre, which he settled with an undisclosed payment without admitting wrongdoing.

He also returned his military affiliations and royal patronages to his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

At the time, Maskell proposed the Removal of Titles Bill, which would allow the monarch or a parliamentary committee to strip individuals of their titles.

Following the latest development she has asked that parliament consider the Bill again, “should anything ever occur in future years”.

But she said the step to no longer use the title “really does bring welcome in our city”.

She said York would be “relieved” that its association with Prince Andrew and “the murky goings-on with Jeffrey Epstein” had been broken.

She added: “Whilst we all understand that the [former] Duke of York doesn’t live in a castle in our city, across the world that association is made with our city.

“People come from all over the world to York and we want to ensure that the real values of York are upheld.

“We called for that when these murky matters first came into the light and I think it is the right decision.”

Although the prince volunteered to stop using the title, Maskell said there had “clearly” been pressure on him to do so.

She added: “I trust that it brought to his mind his own association with Jeffrey Epstein and that he would recognise the real hurt that has been brought to the victims and survivors.”