Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson Stripped of Royal Titles

Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, have been officially stripped of their royal titles and are no longer the Duke and Duchess of York. This decision was made against the backdrop of the ongoing scandals surrounding the prince, which are related to his ties with the American financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement issued by Buckingham Palace on October 17, the former Duke of York stated that the "ongoing accusations" against him and his connection with Epstein "distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family."

"I have decided, as always, to put my duty to my family and country first," the statement said. "With His Majesty's consent, I will no longer use my title and the honorary titles bestowed upon me." The 64-year-old prince, however, continues to "categorically deny all accusations."

This is not the first time Andrew has been stripped of his privileges. In January 2022, he had already lost his military titles, royal patronage, and the right to officially use the title "His Royal Highness." Despite all this, Andrew remains a prince as the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II and will continue to reside at his Royal Lodge residence.

The decision to strip the titles coincides with the eve of the publication of Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir, "Nobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice." Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexual assault, died in April of this year.

At the same time, Sarah Ferguson, who will also no longer hold the title of Duchess of York, was recently removed from her charitable activities. The reason was the publication by the Daily Mail of her 2011 letter to Epstein, in which Ferguson called him a "generous and devoted friend." After that, Julia's House, a children's hospice of which she was the honorary patron, terminated its cooperation, stating that "the organization finds it impossible for her to continue as a patron."

Andrew and Sarah's daughters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, will retain their titles and status as members of the royal family.