Author Explains Why King Charles & Prince William Won't Strip Andrew of His Title: 'It Would Be...'
On one side, whispers swirl about the possibility of Prince Andrew being stripped of his royal titles, and on the other side, there is growing speculation that neither King Charles nor Prince William would be keen to stir the pot. While Andrew’s reputation has taken a major hit in recent years, formally removing his dukedom could trigger something the royals are likely to avoid: a political and parliamentary showdown.
Technically, the King can personally remove certain honors, such as the Order of the Garter, but stripping a dukedom is a different ballgame. That power lies with Parliament. Back in 2022, after many people in York expressed discomfort with being linked to Andrew, a private member’s bill proposed giving the monarch the authority to remove titles. The proposal went nowhere. But if the government were to back a similar bill, its chances of success would be far higher. If such were to happen, Andrew’s name could be deleted from the official Roll of the Peerage, where it currently appears under 'York', according to The Telegraph.
Many believe his title will eventually fade out on its own. Once Andrew dies, the Dukedom of York will return to the Crown, unless it’s regranted. Andrew, 65, has been a quiet yet persistent thorn in the monarchy’s side since his infamous 2019 Newsnight interview about his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. He stepped back from royal duties soon after, losing also his military patronages, but his titles, particularly 'Duke of York,' remain intact.
According to royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, removing them isn’t as simple. “To remove Andrew’s Dukedom would require an Act of Parliament,” he told The Royal Insider. “The precedent is the Titles Deprivation Act of 1917, which deprived enemy peers of British titles.” That’s where things get tricky. Fitzwilliams explained, “The royal family would not welcome being debated in Parliament… I do not think [the monarch] would willingly open it up to parliamentary scrutiny. It would be a huge news story.”
Fitzwilliams's comments follow the recent release of Entitled, a bombshell biography by royal writer Andrew Lownie. The book, excerpted recently in the Daily Mail, contains damning claims about Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and has renewed questions about whether the monarchy should distance itself further from the scandal-plagued Duke.
The timing couldn’t be worse as Charles is undergoing cancer treatment, and William is already stretched thin, taking on more royal duties. A Palace insider stressed, “Something still needs to be done,” just not right now, it seems. Adding to the complexity, Andrew isn’t easily dislodged. He holds a long-term lease with the Crown Estate for Royal Lodge in Windsor, and as long as he can afford the upkeep (rumored to cost millions), he’s legally entitled to stay put.