Britain’s Prince Andrew announced on Friday his decision to renounce the title of Duke of York. This decision comes after years of criticism of his behavior and ties to the late American convicted criminal Jeffrey Epstein.
Prince Andrew Relinquishes Title as Duke of York
Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles and the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has been at the center of controversy in recent years, primarily due to his ties to Epstein. Furthermore, last year’s court proceedings revealed that one of his business partners was identified as a Chinese spy. The prince stated that he had ceased all contact with this individual.
In an official statement, Andrew noted that “the ongoing allegations distract attention from my brother’s work and the activities of the entire Royal Family.” He emphasized that the decision to renounce the title was agreed upon with the King and is the latest step in his withdrawal from public life. “I stand by my choice and vigorously deny the allegations made against me,” the prince added.
Andrew, 65, was once considered a successful naval officer and served in the Falklands War in the early 1980s. In 2011, he resigned as Britain’s trade ambassador, and in 2019, from all royal duties. In 2022, he was stripped of his military ranks and royal patronages following allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has always denied. That same year, he settled a lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre, who claimed she was a victim of his sexual abuse as a teenager.
According to YouGov polls, approximately 67% of Britons support stripping Andrew of his remaining titles, while only 13% oppose it, and only 5% of the population views him favorably.
While Andrew is renouncing the title of Duke of York and the title of “His Royal Highness,” he retains his status as a prince and will reside at Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate. He will no longer attend the annual Christmas gathering at Sandringham. The decision will not affect his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, or his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, although she will no longer be known as the Duchess of York.
Sarah Ferguson’s relationships with charities have also suffered: several foundations severed ties with her after she called Epstein her “best friend” in a letter three years after his confession to sex crimes.
Beyond his ties to Epstein, Andrew’s business dealings have also drawn attention. Last year, it was revealed that a Chinese businessman Andrew had engaged to find investors was labeled a spy by British authorities and banned from entering the country.
This chain of events has finally confirmed the need for Prince Andrew to distance himself from royal life and renounce his title, so as not to distract from the work of the monarch and the royal family.
International Rescue Saves Ten Ukrainian Sailors off Bulgaria
About 140 nautical miles east of Varna, a Ukrainian vessel suffered a hull breach, forcing the crew to send a distress signal at 1:00 PM as water quickly began flooding the ship.
A coordinated rescue operation was launched involving a Bulgarian coast guard boat, a Romanian ship, a Turkish support vessel, and a Bulgarian Navy helicopter. The Turkish vessel MURAT ILHAN was the first to locate the sailors near the Sakarya gas field. All ten crew members were safely evacuated to the rescue ships and are reported to be in stable condition.
