King Charles Reacts to Prince Andrew Giving Up His Royal Title

The King’s younger brother announced he’d no longer use the title associated with his dukedom and other honors amid renewed interest in his connections to Jeffrey Epstein

King Charles is understood to be glad of the outcome after Prince Andrew announced that he will no longer use his royal titles and honors.

Andrew, 65, made the shocking revelation on Friday, Oct. 17, in a statement released via Buckingham Palace. “In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” he said. “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.”

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty; Steve Parsons – WPA Pool/Getty

“I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life,” he continued. “With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me.”

“As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me,” he concluded.

PEOPLE understands that King Charles, 76, was consulted on the matter and is glad of the outcome.

Prince Andrew and Prince Charles in 2012.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

Earlier in the day, a royal source told The Times that the King was “considering all options” when it came to his brother, including the possibility of removing Andrew’s titles. The outlet, citing the royal source, added that there was hope that Prince Andrew would voluntarily give them up.

Prince Andrew most notably will be giving up his title as the Duke of York, conferred on him by his mother, Queen Elizabeth, upon his 1986 wedding

PEOPLE understands he remains a prince as the son of Queen Elizabeth, in accordance with Letters Patent issued in 1917 by George V and updated by Queen Elizabeth in 2012.

His ex-wife will be known as Sarah Ferguson, which she has used professionally for many years, and will no longer use her Duchess of York title in any capacity. Their couple’s two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will not be affected.

The shocking move comes amid ongoing headlines about Prince Andrew’s involvement in multiple scandals. The King was said to be furious over his brother’s involvement in a Chinese spy scandal, and Andrew continues to make headlines regarding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Queen Elizabeth’s second son stepped back from his duties as a working royal in November 2019, following a highly scrutinized interview with BBC’s Newsnight, about his alleged ties to the billionaire and alleged sex trafficker.

In 2022, the Queen stripped Andrew of his military titles and patronages after he attempted to dismiss a sexual assault lawsuit against him by alleged Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre. He has denied any wrongdoing, and in February 2022, settled with Giuffre out of court for an undisclosed sum.

It was recently revealed that Andrew lied about cutting off his relationship with Epstein. In the Newsnight interview, he told journalist Emily Maitlis that he had ceased all contact with the billionaire predator after visiting him in New York at the end of 2010.

However, on Oct. 12, The Mail on Sunday and The Sun on Sunday published a 2011 email that the prince allegedly wrote to Epstein the day after the infamous picture showing him with his arm around Giuffre was published.

Andrew reportedly wrote, “I’m just as concerned for you! Don’t worry about me! It would seem we are in this together and will have to rise above it.”

“Otherwise, keep in close touch, and we’ll play some more soon!!!!” he added, before signing off with “A, HRH The Duke of York, KG.” (a reference to him being a knight of the Order of the Garter).

Prince Andrew and King Charles at the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth on Sept. 19, 2022.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty

This recent royal shakeup comes just days after The Sunday Times reported that King Charles told Andrew and Fergie that they would not be welcome at the royal family’s Christmas celebrations this year.

Andrew and Fergie, as Sarah is popularly known, recently made a public appearance alongside royal family members at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral last month.