A quiet but significant change has been made to the official royal family website, reflecting a major shift in status for a senior member of the monarchy. References to Prince Andrew’s former title, the Duke of York, have been removed from his official profile.
The update follows the Prince’s formal announcement last week that he would no longer use his royal titles or associated honors. While he remains listed as a member of the royal family on the site, his designation has been altered. He is now identified simply as “Prince Andrew,” rather than by the peerage title he held for nearly four decades.
The Duke of York title was originally bestowed upon him by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1986. Traces of the old style remain within the biographical text, which still references his past naval service under that designation.
The decision to relinquish the titles was confirmed in a personal statement. In it, the Prince cited a desire to prevent ongoing accusations from distracting from the work of King Charles III and the wider institution. He reiterated a previous denial of the allegations against him and stated the move was made with the King’s agreement.
This formal step is widely seen as the culmination of mounting pressure related to long-standing controversies. It coincides with the recent publication of a memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who previously settled a civil lawsuit against the Prince out of court. The book contains new allegations about their past association.
The website adjustment, though seemingly administrative, marks the latest chapter in the Prince’s gradual withdrawal from public royal life, a process that began several years ago. It underscores the monarchy’s ongoing efforts to manage a complex and sensitive personal and reputational matter within the royal household.
