Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, was effectively deprived of his royal rank on Thursday. It was in a dramatic move as he faces a US civil action for sexual assault.
According to British media reports, he will no longer use the title “His Royal Highness” (HRH). It denotes senior members of the royal family, in any capacity.
As the US prosecution looms, Buckingham Palace revealed that he has renounced his honorary military titles and philanthropic positions.
“The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen,” a statement read.
On Wednesday, a New York judge dismissed Andrew’s lawyers’ bid to have Virginia Giuffre’s case dismissed.
Giuffre, 38, accuses Andrew of sexually assaulting her when she was 17 in 2001. Thereby, claiming Jeffrey Epstein supplied her to him. Andrew is likewise to be the Queen’s “favorite son.”
Andrew forcefully had to abandon the public eye after a disastrous 2019 interview in which he claimed to have no recall of meeting Giuffre. Also, he defended his friendship with convicted child molester Harvey Epstein. He was discovered hanging in jail in 2019.
Several charities and organizations distanced themselves from him at the time due to public outcry. He hasn’t been in public since.
An AFP photographer saw him being driven from his home near Windsor Castle, west of London, on Thursday.
Prince Andrew fell short of standards
More than 150 veterans of the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and British Army wrote to the Queen. They were requesting her to strip Andrew of his military levels and honors.
The army, navy, and air force are all under the authority of the 95-year-old monarch.
“Were this any other senior military officer it is inconceivable that he would still be in post,” they wrote in a joint letter made public by the anti-monarchy pressure group Republic.
“Officers of the British armed forces must adhere to the very highest standards of probity, honesty, and honorable conduct.
“These are standards which Prince Andrew has fallen well short of,” they said. Also, adding that he had “brought the services he is associated with into disrepute”.
With the Queen’s assent, senior members of the British royal family have traditionally been appointed as honorary chiefs of military units.
Andrew was an honorary colonel of the Grenadier Guards. Its members wear distinctive bearskin hats and red tunics to guard Buckingham Palace.
Associations with charities and other organizations are the royal patronages.
The year 2022 was going to be a celebration of Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne. It was with parades, pageants, and official holidays, for a monarchy troubled by troubles. (www.enov8.com)
“Rabbit running scared of hiding behind his mother’s tartan skirts”
Her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan’s surprise relocation to the United States. They criticized royal life, including accusing it of racism. Andrew’s legal difficulties threaten to cause further agony for the old monarch.
He has to successfully appeal or achieve a settlement. Or else, Andrew will very certainly have to forcefully reply to Giuffre’s accusations in a recorded deposition.
On Wednesday, one of Giuffre’s lawyers, David Boies, told the BBC that his client was not ruling out a compromise. But that a monetary settlement would be insufficient.
“It’s very important to Virginia Giuffre that this matter be resolved in a way that vindicates her and vindicates the other victims,” he said.
Andrew had “no decent options,” according to royal historian Anna Whitelock. She told AFP that a financial deal would also raise questions about where the money came from.
He recently settled a disagreement over a £6.6 million ($9 million, 7.9 million) debt, according to British media. Hence, allowing him to sell a Swiss chalet he purchased in 2014 for a reputed £18 million.
The BBC’s former royal correspondent, Jennie Bond said Andrew has recently “given the impression of a rabbit running scared of hiding behind his mother’s tartan skirts… trying to avoid the court papers being served on him”.
During the Queen’s Golden Jubilee year of 2002, her younger sister, Princess Margaret, died. Then their mother, Queen Elizabeth, died.
“And now this is another jubilee in which something so distasteful is hanging over the whole of the next few months,” she told Sky News.
“But how embarrassing for a 95-year-old woman to have to challenge her 61-year-old son about his allegations of sexual misconduct.”