abuse charges
The Queen takes action: Prince Andrew gives up patronage and lets titles rest
Queen Elizabeth and her favorite son Prince Andrew
© Picture Alliance
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has withdrawn all military ranks and royal patronage from her son Prince Andrew, who is being sued for abuse allegations in the United States. Most recently, military veterans had approached the queen.
After a legal defeat in connection with an abuse suit brought against him in the USA, the British Prince Andrew loses his military titles and also his patronage. This was announced by Buckingham Palace in London. The second eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II is charged with sexual abuse in connection with the affair of the convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Prince Andrew in court as a ‘private citizen’
“With the consent and approval of the Queen, the Duke of York’s military ranks and royal patronage have been returned to the Queen,” the palace said. Andrew will continue to “hold no public office” and in the event of the allegations against him he will “defend himself as a private citizen”.
The day before, Andrew had failed with a motion to dismiss the abuse lawsuit against him in the United States. This brings a civil case against the British prince closer.
The plaintiff Virginia Giuffre claims to have been sexually abused several times in 2001 at the age of 17 by Prince Andrew, including in Epstein’s luxury residence in New York. Epstein “loaned” her to the Royal at the time. Giuffre is now demanding compensation in an undisclosed amount. The civil trial could begin in the fall.
Military veterans wrote to Queen
Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied Giuffre’s allegations against him. Because of the allegations and his previous contacts with Epstein, however, he gave up his royal duties in 2019 and largely withdrew from the public.
In an open letter, more than 150 British military veterans had asked the Queen to relieve Prince Andrew of his military roles because he had not lived up to the high standards of honorable behavior associated with the ranks. “If this were any other senior military officer, there is no question that he would still be in office,” the letter said.