As Prince Andrew makes a bombshell announcement, the York family will be left navigating a very different reality from the one they’re used to, from going by different names to facing fresh scrutiny
The recent bombshell announcement by Prince Andrew won’t just affect the former Duke. His ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will also be affected.
In an explosive decision, Andrew, 65, will now relinquish his titles and honours as his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein continues to cast a shadow over the Royal Family. The former Duke of York has vehemently denied accusations that he had sex with Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre when she was 17, and has always strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
His decision comes mere days before the posthumous publication of Giuffre’s memoir, Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, which makes reference to her alleged meeting with Andrew. The book will hit shelves on October 21.
As the palace navigates the next chapter in what has been dubbed ‘the Andrew problem’, the Mirror takes a look at what life looks like now in the troubled House of York.
READ MORE: Prince Andrew still worth £3.7m even after losing all his royal titles
Prince Andrew
The former duke continues to ‘vigorously deny the accusations’ he faces(Image: Getty Images)
Following his 1986 wedding to Sarah Ferguson, Prince Andrew was given the title of Duke of York, a title once held by Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved father, King George VI, before he ascended to the throne. Now, he has handed this title back alongside other royal honours which have been bestowed upon him
This reportedly marks the first time a senior royal has ceased using a dukedom for more than 100 years. The last time was when Queen Victoria’s grandson, the Duke of Albany, was stripped of his title under the Titles Deprivation Act 1917 for fighting on the side of the Germans during the First World War.
In a statement issued last night (Friday, October 18), 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.
“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.”
In his now infamous 2019 Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, Prince Andrew claimed to have cut off contact with Epstein in December 2010. However, it has since emerged that, in an email dated February 28, 2011, Andrew told disgraced financier Epstein that they would “have to rise above it”.
This exchange made reference to their accuser, Virginia, who claimed to have been trafficked by Epstein as a teenager. Virginia also accused Andrew of having sex with her when she was 17 years old. He has strongly denied the allegations made against him by Virginia, who died in April at the age of just 41.
It’s understood that Andrew’s decision to drop his titles was made in close consultation with both his brother King Charles and William, Prince of Wales. The monarch is said to be “glad” at the outcome.
Meanwhile, one palace source told the Express: “After months of radio silence, this finally feels like the end of it. We’re all able to breathe a sigh of relief.”
The latest move comes after Andrew withdrew from royal duties in 2019 and was stripped of royal patronages and military links in 2022.
Now without titles or royal duties, the late Queen’s so-called favourite son will now spend his days at Royal Lodge, his grace and favour home in Windsor Great Park which he shares with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
Sarah Ferguson
Sarah Ferguson has remained close to her ex-husband after their split(Image: Getty Images)
Prince Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah, formerly Sarah, Duchess of York, will from now on be officially referred to as Sarah Ferguson, The Telegraph reported. The move will see her relinquishing her title that she had held since her wedding day with her ex-husband Andrew, back in 1986.
Following their separation in 1992 and divorce in 1996, Sarah, who recently celebrated her 66th birthday, continued using the title of duchess, and also remained on unusually close terms with her ex. The former spouses made a post-marital home for themselves at Windsor’s Royal Lodge, with Sarah famously once declaring they were the “happiest divorced couple in the world”.
However, Sarah’s time within the royal family, both during and after her marriage, has included plenty of scandalous moments. In an article penned for The iPaper today, royal commentator Jennie Bond wrote: “The rumours and scandals involving Andrew — and his ex-wife Sarah (now just plain Sarah Ferguson) — have been swirling around for more than 30 years.
“From Fergie’s topless toe-sucking saga to the far more sickening allegations of Andrew’s activities with Epstein, this oddly divorced couple have heaped embarrassment and damage on the monarchy. And one thing Andrew correctly identifies in his farewell note is that the continued accusations about him distract from the work of the rest of his family.
“And that became the tipping point. The King and his small band of working royals must have found it deeply frustrating to have their carefully planned engagements repeatedly overshadowed by yet another sleazy headline about the ex-Duke.”
The mother of two was recently dropped by multiple charities over a 2011 email, sent to Epstein after he was convicted of procuring a child for prostitution in 2008. In this exchange, Sarah referred to the sex offender as her “supreme friend” and appeared to apologise over criticisms she’d made about him publicly.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie
Sisters Beatrice and Eugenie will still be welcome to join The Firm at Christmas(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
Princess Beatrice, 37, and Princess Eugenie, 35, will reportedly not be affected by Andrew’s latest move. The two princesses will keep their titles and will also still be welcome at the Royal Family’s Christmas celebrations.
However, the road ahead will likely be far from easy for the York sisters, whom former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond argues must believe wholeheartedly in the innocence. of their accused father.
Jennie exclusively told the Mirror: “Whatever else you might think about Andrew and Sarah, they are brilliant parents and have brought up two very decent young women. They will remain Princesses and be welcome at events with the rest of the Royal Family, such as Christmas at Sandringham.
“However, they are extremely close to their parents and have stayed loyal through thick and thin. I’m sure they’ll be supporting Andrew and Sarah through this latest crisis, just as they have been there for them in the past. They must believe their father’s protestations of innocence….otherwise they surely couldn’t live with themselves.”
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READ MORE: Prince William ‘was driving force’ behind Andrew giving up titles, claims royal expert
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