Buckingham Palace makes huge change after Prince Andrew gives up title

Buckingham Palace has finally made a huge change to its website following Prince Andrew giving up his Duke of York title.

It now appears that his Duke of York honour has now been scrubbed from the site - and he is now just referred to on it as Prince Andrew. However, he still appears on the site, despite not taking part in public life. Andrew relinquished his use of the Duke of York title amid the long-running fallout of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and the publication of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir. He will retain his title of Prince, as he is entitled to as per his birth right.

The titles and honours he will no longer use include his wedding day titles - The Duke of York, the Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh; his Knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO); his Garter role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

He will also not be able to wear the Garter robes he was seen in at Charles's coronation. Although Andrew is relinquishing his dukedom, he still technically retains it - and it can only be removed by an Act of Parliament.

Formally stripping him of the title would require an Act of Parliament but Charles is believed to view the largely symbolic move as a waste of parliamentary time and the Government has said it will be guided by the royal family’s views. But the Westminster leaders of the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru are among MPs calling for legislation.

Andrew, still a prince and living in the 30-bedroom Royal Lodge mansion, issued a statement in his own words on Friday in which he said he was giving up his Duke of York title and honours, to prevent distracting from the work of the monarch and the royal family.

Sarah Ferguson, who split from the duke more than 30 years ago but remained one of his greatest supporters and still shares his Royal Lodge home, will also lose her title of the Duchess of York, and will revert back to her maiden name.

He said in a statement released 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. 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."

The prince stepped down from public life in 2019 after his disastrous Newsnight interview in which he said he "did not regret" his friendship with Epstein. He went on to stop using his HRH style and was stripped of his military patronages by the Queen.