Council calls for Prince Andrew to be stripped of Duke of York title

Prince Andrew became the duke when he married Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

Author: Local Democracy Reporter Joe CooperPublished 14th Jan 2022

Prince Andrew should be stripped of the title linking him to York, the city council has said.

It comes after the Queen took away his honorary military roles and royal patronages, as well as is HRH style, in a dramatic fallout from his civil sexual assault case.

Councillor Darryl Smalley, executive member for culture, leisure and communities at the City of York Council, has now called for the Duke of York title to be urgently removed.

Prince Andrew became the duke, the title traditionally carried by the British monarch’s second son and held for life, when he married Sarah Ferguson in 1986.

Coun Smalley said: “York’s unique connection to the Crown and the Monarch is an important part of our city’s legacy, history and a great source of pride.

“No one is above the law and all allegations should rightly be fully investigated, particularly following the recent distressing court cases. We stand with all victims, whose harrowing stories have shocked us all in recent months.

“Whilst Prince Andrew remains innocent until proven guilty, Buckingham Palace and the Government must consider the implications of these troubling allegations moving forward.

“Having been stripped of his military roles and royal patronages by the Queen, he should also now relinquish his title as Duke of York.”

The Queen’s decision, announced today, represents the duke’s complete removal from official royal life, and an attempt to distance the royal family from Andrew, who was once second in line to the throne as the spare to the heir, in the year of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The development is a major blow for the duke who is facing a court showdown after a judge ruled on Wednesday that Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit against him could go ahead.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Thursday: “With the Queen’s approval and agreement, the Duke of York’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen.

“The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.”

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