PRINCE ANDREW FACES ANOTHER PUBLIC BLOW AMID JEFFREY EPSTEIN CONTROVERSY
After relinquishing his royal titles in the midst of the controversy surrounding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew has taken yet another hit. By declaring earlier this month that he would no longer be using his royal titles, such as the "Duke of York" title, Prince Andrew further distanced himself from the Royal Family.
"After consulting with the King and my immediate and extended family, we have determined that the ongoing accusations against me divert attention from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family," Andrew said in a statement issued on Friday, October 17.
"As I always have, I have made the decision to prioritise my responsibilities to my family and my nation. I remain steadfast in my choice to withdraw from public life five years ago.
"We believe I need to take things a step further now that His Majesty has given his approval. As a result, I shall no longer use my title or the honours that I have received. I vehemently refute the charges against me, as I have stated before. According to a recent upgrade, Windsor Castle no longer houses Prince Andrew's banner with his coat of arms. Although it is no longer displayed in Windsor's St George's Chapel, Andrew's membership in the Order of the Garter is symbolised by the red, blue, white, and yellow flag.
When Andrew was made a Knight of the Garter in 2006, he received the banner. Only three are left after the flag was taken down, yet it is thought to have been hanging in the choir until recently.
The Irish harp, Scotland's red lion rampant, and England's three lions are all depicted on the banner. It is thought to have been taken down earlier this week, the BBC reports.
According to The Sun, the banner was taken down on Wednesday, October 22, after being up on display on Saturday, October 19. Media outlet UNILAD revealed that they have contacted Andrew's representatives and Buckingham Palace for comment regarding the matter.
When Andrew's ties to Epstein came to light in 2011, he was enmeshed in controversy. Epstein has consistently rejected Virginia Giuffre's claims that he trafficked her when she was 17 and forced her to have sex with Prince Andrew in 2001.
These claims first appeared in Epstein's court records in 2015, and after Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against him, the former Duke of York ultimately paid her a settlement in 2022. Prince Andrew was forced to halt all royal activities two years before the settlement. Giuffre tragically passed away in April 2025 at the age of 41 by suicide.