King Charles Faces Legal Complexities in Removing Prince Andrew’s Titles Amid Epstein Fallout

Prince Andrew has agreed to stop using his royal titles, including the Duke of York, amid renewed scandal over his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but legal experts highlight that formally removing his titles would require complex legislation and approval from the 15 Commonwealth realms that share the British monarch. King Charles III is reported to have pushed for this relinquishment as a final act to protect the monarchy and his son Prince William from inheriting the controversy, reflecting a desire to clear the royal family's public image before William ascends the throne. While Andrew no longer uses his HRH title or public duties, he remains eighth in line to the throne, and his peerages continue to legally exist until Parliament enacts new laws, since existing statutes like the Titles Deprivation Act 1917 do not straightforwardly apply today. The government asserts that decisions about stripping Andrew's titles fall to the king, but Buckingham Palace insists the monarch must remain neutral on parliamentary acts, maintaining the traditional separation between the crown and Parliament. Historically, other royals have lost or relinquished titles under various circumstances, demonstrating that removing royal titles is rare, constitutionally complex, and often tied to broader political and familial dynamics within the monarchy.