Buckingham Palace has recently updated its official website, reflecting Prince Andrew's significant decision to relinquish his Duke of York title. The website now refers to him simply as Prince Andrew, a change that follows intensified scrutiny and public pressure. Despite having stepped back from active public duties, his presence on the royal family's digital platform remains.

Prince Andrew's choice to give up the Duke of York dukedom comes amidst the continuing repercussions of the Jeffery Epstein scandal and the recent release of Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir. He announced this decision in a statement on Friday, explaining that he was relinquishing the title and associated honours to prevent further distraction from the vital work of the monarch and the wider royal family. In this statement, released by Buckingham Palace, he affirmed, "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." He added, "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. 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."

The honours Prince Andrew will no longer use include those bestowed upon him on his wedding day: the Duke of York, the Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killyleagh. Furthermore, he will cease using his Knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and his Garter role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. Consequently, he will no longer be permitted to wear the distinctive Garter robes, which he notably wore at King Charles's coronation.

It is important to note that while Prince Andrew is stepping back from using his dukedom, he technically still retains the title. Its formal removal would necessitate an Act of Parliament. However, King Charles is reportedly of the opinion that such a largely symbolic legislative step would constitute a waste of parliamentary time. The Government has indicated it will defer to the royal family's guidance on the matter, as reported by the Mirror. Despite this, some Westminster leaders, including MPs from the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru, are advocating for formal legislation to remove the title.

Prince Andrew will, however, retain his title of Prince, which he holds by birthright. He continues to reside in the sprawling 30-bedroom Royal Lodge. His former wife, Sarah Ferguson, who separated from him over three decades ago but remains a steadfast supporter and co-resident at Royal Lodge, will also be affected by this decision. She will consequently lose her Duchess of York title and revert to using her maiden name. This recent action follows Andrew's withdrawal from public duties in 2018, an event triggered by a controversial Newsnight interview where he stated he "did not regret" his friendship with Epstein. Following this, he ceased using his HRH style, and his military patronages were removed by the late Queen.