Will Prince Louis Inherit the Duke of York Title as Andrew Steps Down? History Suggests Yes
Prince Louis may be just 7 years old, but as the son of the future King, he is destined to take on royal responsibilities, including inheriting the Duke of York title. On October 17, Prince Andrew relinquished the said title, following his many scandals involving Jeffrey Epstein, which put the monarchy in 'peril.' Since the Duke of York title traditionally passes to male heirs, Louis could be next in line, but only if Prince William were to have it.
Andrew announced in a statement from Buckingham Palace that he will no longer use his royal titles, stating that 'the continued accusations' about him 'distract from the work' of King Charles and the royal family. Although he remains a Prince, he will no longer be publicly known as the Duke of York.
The Dukedom has been typically bestowed by the monarch on their second son, a practice dating back to King Edward IV in 1474. The late Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, also held the title before King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne in 1936. Since the dukedom follows male-line succession, it cannot be held by Andrew's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. Without a legitimate male heir, the title will pass on to the Crown upon Andrew’s death.
Therefore, when William ascends the throne, Louis could potentially become the next Duke of York, as the monarch’s second son. However, William could choose to break with tradition and give Louis a different title, or possibly no title at all.
It is widely expected that Prince George will become the next Prince of Wales, a title inherited by the monarch's eldest son and heir. William is currently the 22nd Prince to hold this title, which was first created in 1301 for Prince Edward of Caernarvon.
William, when King, could also grant Princess Charlotte the title of Princess Royal, following the example of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, who gave the title to her only daughter, Princess Anne. The title is largely ceremonial, but it is the highest honor available to a female member of the royal family. Only seven Princesses have held the title since it was first created in 1642 by King Charles I for his daughter, Princess Mary.
While Louis still has a long time to inherit the title, officially stripping Andrew of his dukedom would require an Act of Parliament. His statement from the Palace read, "In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family... I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life."