No longer ‘His Royal Highness’: Queen strips Prince Andrew of navy titles over Epstein scandal

Long described as her favorite son, Prince Andrew gave his mom Queen Elizabeth II little alternative however to inflict the humiliation of stripping him of his honorary navy titles as his US civil trial for sexual assault looms.

The resolution, introduced by Buckingham Palace on Thursday in a terse assertion, dominated UK newspapers Friday, with many seeing it as an indication of the 95-year-old Queen’s need to “distance herself” from her son.”It’s survival of the royal institution at all costs — and it always will be,” wrote the Daily Mail.READ: Indian-origin Chancellor Rishi Sunak: British Prime Minister in ready?”It’s probably over for him” now he has misplaced his royal patronages and can now not use the title “His Royal Highness”, stated royal historian Bob Morris.”The time had come to push him further back out of the limelight,” he advised AFP.The scenario grew to become untenable after a New York choose on Wednesday refused to dismiss a civil swimsuit accusing the prince of sexually assaulting Virginia Giuffre when she was 17.She claims she was supplied to the prince by his buddy Jeffrey Epstein. File photograph of Jeffrey Epstein | APThe stress ramped up when 150 navy personnel wrote to the Queen to denounce what they stated was 61-year-old Andrew’s lack of “probity, honesty and honourable conduct”.The long-running scandal involving the Duke of York, who’s ninth in line to the throne, additionally threatens to overshadow celebrations in June to mark the seventieth yr of the queen’s reign.”I think it was a huge embarrassment that retired serving military personnel were demanding that titles be removed,” stated Penny Junor, creator of quite a few books on the British monarchy.”It becomes damaging to the Queen because the Queen is then seen as protecting her son.”‘Black sheep’Morris stated that “the moment had come really to execute a Plan B to protect the monarchy and to protect, in particular, the Platinum Jubilee”.Four days of festivities are deliberate throughout the nation at first of June, together with a navy parade, a big live performance in London and a pudding competitors.The Queen, whose public appearances are more and more uncommon, is claimed to have made her resolution after discussions with Charles, inheritor to the crown, and her grandson Prince William, second in line to the throne, British media stated.Andrew, was reportedly summoned to Windsor Castle and drove there together with his lawyer. File photograph of Prince Andrew | APHe lives three miles (4.8 kilometres) from the citadel at Royal Lodge, the previous house of the Queen’s mom.On Friday, he confronted calls to “relinquish his title as Duke of York” due to the adverse impression of the case with the northern English metropolis.Whatever the end result of the civil trial in New York — the place an out-of-court monetary settlement stays an possibility — anger shall be directed at Andrew, quite than on the monarchy, Morris predicted.Andrew “is the black sheep of the family, but the family will continue”, he added.Andrew retains his title of Duke of York and stays “Counsellor of State”, a place bestowed on the Queen’s youngsters, which permits them to briefly execute her duties, if wanted.But he has already withdrawn from public life following a calamitous 2019 tv interview, wherein he was confronted concerning the accusations of sexual assault, which he categorically denies.A authorities official refused to say on Friday whether or not his safety element would proceed to be paid for by taxpayers.It can be unclear whether or not he’ll be capable of attend the deliberate memorial service for his father Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey within the coming months.