Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Duke of York has been stripped of his honorary military titles, remaining royal patronages and his HRH style as he continues to face a sexual assault case against him.
The dramatic move comes after a judge threw out Prince Andrew’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which was launched by a victim of convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Virginia Giuffre’s civil lawsuit accuses the Duke of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager, which Andrew has strenuously denied.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement last Thursday: “With the Queen’s approval and agreement, the Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to the Queen.
“The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.”
Before Andrew stepped down from public duties in 2019, after a disastrous BBC Newsnight interview, he held around 230 patronages at a number of golf clubs, sailing clubs, military groups, and charities.
Following the interview, charities including Action on Hearing Loss, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra rushed to distance themselves from him.
More than 90 organisations still appear on the official royal family website under the list of the Duke’s patronages.
He is still listed as the patron of the Royal Free Charity, which supports the work of the Royal Free Hospital in London, as well as the volunteer support charity Attend, and the Foundation for Liver Research.
The Duke is also a patron of Sound Seekers, a charity for dead children in Commonwealth countries, and the Royal Society, which promotes excellence in science.
Other charities still listed on the royal family’s website under Andrew’s patronages include the British-Kazakh Society, Greenwich Hospital, SickKids Foundation, The Royal Fine Art Commission Trust, and more.
After he was stripped of his honorary affiliations with the armed forces, Andrew is also no longer Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.
Other honorary titles he has lost are: honorary air commodore of RAF Lossiemouth; colonel-in-chief of the Royal Irish Regiment; colonel-in-chief of the Small Arms School Corps; commodore-in-chief of the Fleet Air Arm; royal colonel of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland; deputy colonel-in-chief of The Royal Lancers; and colonel-in-chief of the Yorkshire Regiment.
The Duke has also given up his HRH style, which means that although he retains it, he will not use it in any official capacity.
As the palace’s statement mentions the Duke will continue to his defend his case as a private citizen, giving up his HRH style paves the way for him to seek an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre without the fear that his decision will be associated with the royal family.
Additional reporting by PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments