Prince Andrew has officially given up all of his royal titles, including the Duke of York, following a “discussion with the King”. This means he is no longer a counsellor of state, which means his youngest daughter, Princess Eugenie will now take on the important role.
In the event that King Charles cannot undertake his official duties as monarch on a temporary basis due to illness or absence abroad, two or more Counsellors of State are appointed by Letters Patent to act in His Majesty’s place. Counsellors of State include the Sovereign’s spouse by law and the next four people in the line of succession who are over the age of 21.
The current Counsellors of State are now Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. However, due to the Duke of Sussex and Prince Andrew both stepping back as working royals, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh were promoted under the Counsellors of State Act 2022.
This was despite Princess Eugenie being ahead of the King’s siblings, Anne and Edward, in the line of succession.
Princess Eugenie and her older sister Beatrice, are however not working members of the Firm.
This means that the sisters will remain unaffected by their father, Prince Andrew’s decision to step down from his remaining royal titles and roles.
In a newly-released statement, Andrew confirmed he will hand back all of his titles, including his Dukedom of York, with immediate effect.
His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, known as the Duchess of York, has also given up her royal title.
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In his statement, Andrew said: “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.”
He continued: “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.”
Andrew has been involved in a lengthy scandal, due to his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
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He previously stepped down from his royal duties in 2019 following his car crash Newsnight interview.
He will not lose his rights to his remaining titles in public but his two daughters will not be impacted by this due to the rules laid down by King George V in 1917.
As Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were born as male-line grandchildren of a monarch, they would retain their titles regardless of any decision to do with their father.
