Majority of Britons Demand Duke of York’s Royal Titles Be Revoked
A recent poll has revealed that nearly two-thirds of the British public believe the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, should be stripped of his remaining royal titles, including his dukedom and princely title.
The survey, conducted by YouGov, found that 67% of respondents support the removal of Andrew’s titles, while 13% oppose the move and 21% remain undecided.
Background: The Duke’s Controversial Past
The Duke of York has faced intense scrutiny in recent years, particularly following the publication of an unflattering biography in August that delved into his private life.
The book alleged, among other things, that Andrew was involved in a physical altercation with his nephew, Prince Harry, and that he had treated royal staff poorly.
Andrew has also been criticized for his association with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of paedophilia.
The duke has repeatedly denied allegations of sexual misconduct made by Virginia Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein as a teenager.
Legal Implications
If the British Parliament were to revoke Andrew’s dukedom, legislation would be required.
However, the King could issue a Letters Patent to remove Andrew’s birthright to be a prince.
The duke has already stopped using his royal highness style following a disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019.
Andrew stepped away from his public role in 2019 amid the controversy surrounding his friendship with Epstein.
He later settled a civil sexual assault case with Giuffre out of court, paying millions of dollars in damages.
The question of whether Andrew should be stripped of his royal titles has been a topic of debate for some time, with many calling for him to be held accountable for his actions.
The latest poll results suggest that a significant majority of the British public believe he should be punished further.