A legislation is set to be presented in Parliament today, allowing the King to officially revoke Prince Andrew’s dukedom. The bill, proposed by York Central MP Rachael Maskell, seeks to empower the monarch to formally withdraw titles.
This development follows Prince Andrew’s announcement to cease using his Duke of York title, knighthood, and role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter amidst growing controversy surrounding his connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Although the Prince has refuted any misconduct allegations, he still holds onto his dukedom, which can only be taken away through an act of Parliament. Ms. Maskell, an independent MP, emphasized the need for Parliament or the monarch to have the authority to strip titles, stating, “The Duke of York title may no longer be in use, but it remains intact. My proposed legislation, named The Removal of Titles Bill, aims to address this issue and I hope for Parliament’s support.”
For the bill to become law, Government backing is essential, and ministers seem to be observing Buckingham Palace’s stance. Nevertheless, demands are growing for a legal reform given the swirling accusations.
Once the bill is officially released, Ms. Maskell plans to distribute copies to Buckingham Palace and Keir Starmer to garner backing. She expressed hope for discussions between the palace and Parliament to assess the necessity and implementation of the legislation.
The proposed law would extend to other titles, including peerages, potentially affecting members of the House of Lords like Baroness Michelle Mone and Lord Mandelson. Ms. Maskell clarified that while the bill is prompted by recent events, it is designed to be a general provision for future circumstances.
Prince Andrew will relinquish his wedding day titles, comprising Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killyleagh, along with his knighthood and Garter role. The existing Titles Deprivation Act of 1917, originally aimed at stripping titles from those aligned with the enemy during World War I, is unlikely to be applicable in this scenario.
A recent YouGov poll indicated that 80% of Britons support the formal removal of Prince Andrew’s dukedom, with 63% strongly advocating for it and 17% somewhat in favor. Only a small percentage opposed the idea, while a notable portion remained undecided.
