Prince Andrew will no longer use the title of His Royal Highness in any official capacity after the Queen decided her second son should be stripped of his affiliations and patronages
Prince Andrew is “shell-shocked” after the Queen stripped him of his military titles and royal patronages, a source close to him has said.
The scandal-hit Duke of York will no longer use the title of His Royal Highness in any official capacity after the Queen on Wednesday decided that her second son, mired in sex abuse claims and now facing a civil trial, should be stripped of his affiliations and patronages.
Andrew, 61, was summoned by his mum yesterday to be told of her move, following an emergency summit with future king Prince William at her Windsor Castle home.
It comes as the royal family is said to ‘furious’ with the prince over sex claims and dragging the family into disrepute.
And a source close to Andrew last night described him as “shell-shocked”.
Prince Andrew is said to be ‘shell-shocked’ following the Queen’s decision to strip him of his affiliations and patronages
The source added: “Given the robustness with which Judge Kaplan greeted our arguments, we are unsurprised by the ruling.
“However, it was not a judgement on the merits of Ms Giuffre’s allegations. The Duke will continue to defend himself against these claims.”
Andrew has handed back all 12 of his military affiliations, including Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.
The Queen came under mounting pressure to act with a letter signed by more than 150 Navy, RAF and Army veterans asking her to strip him of his military appointments.
The statement issued by Buckingham Palace saying that the Duke of York’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen
The ruthless decision came less than 24 hours after New York judge Lewis Kaplan ruled Andrew must face a civil trial on allegations he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre when she was 17. He denies the accusations.
He will now have to face his trial as an ordinary citizen.
Buckingham Palace said: “With the Queen’s approval and agreement, The Duke of York’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen.
“He will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.”
William met the Queen in her private quarters at Windsor Castle, where sources said it was decided the “axe should swiftly fall” on Andrew’s royal career. A royal source said last night the Duke of Cambridge was locked in talks “for more than an hour” with his gran.
Another suggested the Queen came to “the realisation Andrew’s position was grave indeed” after conversations with Princes Charles and William.
The source added: “If as expected Andrew offers and goes ahead with a multi-million pound settlement then his position will become untenable. The Queen could not take the chance of it coming to that and decided, along with her two heirs, the time for action had come.”
A royal source said: “The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge are completely aligned in their view that the Duke of York has presided over a complete and utter disaster.”
It’s long been thought that Andrew is Her Majesty favourite son and she’s said to have had a far more hands-on relationship with him he was a child than his older brother Prince Charles.
Royal expert Penny Junor once said: “I think the Queen has always had a bit of a blind spot when it comes to Prince Andrew”.
But since giving a “car crash” interview on BBC Newsnight about his association with Epstein, Andrew has seen his royal role diminish with his mother approving him stepping back from public life and reportedly cancelling a milestone birthday party in the past two years.
In the days after the Newsnight interview, which was broadcast in 2019, Andrew sensationally quit public life “for the foreseeable future”.
His statement was approved by the Queen.
The Mirror understands William has been “incandescent” at how his uncle has behaved throughout the legal saga with Ms Giuffre, 38.
A settlement remains “on the table” with Ms Giuffre but her lawyer David Boies insists she is not motivated by cash. He said: “She wants justice.”
He will remain a Prince and a Duke, and hold on to his ninth place in the line of succession to the throne. It is understood he will keep his security detail paid for by the taxpayer.
And he is to hold on to a select few military titles such as Vice Admiral of the Royal Navy, having earned them throughout his military career.
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