By Erewunmi Peace

Prince Andrew, the embattled younger brother of King Charles III, has announced that he will no longer use his title as Duke of York, as well as relinquish several of his royal honours, following renewed controversy surrounding his conduct and public role.

According to reports from Reuters and The Associated Press, Prince Andrew confirmed the decision after discussions with King Charles and senior members of the Royal Family. The move comes amid mounting public pressure and a fresh wave of scrutiny linked to longstanding allegations and financial controversies.

In a statement released through Buckingham Palace, the 65-year-old royal said he made the decision “in the interest of preserving the integrity of the monarchy” and to “put duty to family and country first.”

The decision means Prince Andrew will give up his membership in the Order of the Garter, one of the United Kingdom’s oldest and most prestigious chivalric honours, as well as other royal titles and affiliations.

However, he will remain a prince by birth, as that status cannot be revoked without an Act of Parliament. Legal experts note that while he has agreed to stop using his titles, he technically retains them unless Parliament formally removes the peerage.

Prince Andrew’s royal duties were first suspended in 2019 after his association with the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of sex trafficking, drew global outrage. Since then, he has lived largely out of the public eye and has been excluded from official royal engagements.

Royal watchers say this latest step effectively marks the final end of Prince Andrew’s public royal life, a process that began years ago when he was stripped of military patronages and formal duties under Queen Elizabeth II.

Buckingham Palace has not issued further comment on whether additional measures will follow, but the decision underscores the Royal Family’s continuing effort to distance itself from controversy.