A new YouGov poll reveals that public anger toward Prince Andrew is stronger than ever. According to the poll, 67% of Britons think he should lose his remaining royal titles, such as his princely status and the title of Duke of York. This is a significant jump from three years ago, when 62% of people wanted the same action taken.
Growing Public Disapproval of Prince Andrew
The poll also highlights just how unpopular Prince Andrew has become. Merely 5% of those surveyed claimed to have a favorable opinion of him. This places him far behind other members of the royal family, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Much of this growing disapproval has been fueled by both past controversies and fresh allegations. A recently published biography by author Andrew Lownie has further damaged Prince Andrew’s public image. According to the book, he is “sex-obsessed,” a “useful idiot,” and susceptible to manipulation by the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
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According to the biography, Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, his nephew, got into a physical brawl. It describes incidents of disrespectful treatment of royal employees, such as referring to a long-time worker as “foolish” for mispronouncing the Queen Mother. The unfavorable opinion of the King’s younger brother has been exacerbated by these tales.
Prince Andrew and the Legal Process to Remove Titles
Removing Prince Andrew’s titles is not a simple matter. Parliamentary action would be needed to revoke his Duke of York title. This means that a bill would need to be drafted, debated in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and then approved. Once passed, it would require the King’s formal approval, known as Royal Assent.
His princely title, however, is different. It is a birthright, and removing it could be done by the King through a special legal document called a Letters Patent. This process does not require Parliament but is still a serious and rare step.
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In 2019, following his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew stopped using the style of “His Royal Highness” (HRH). However, this was a voluntary move and not an official removal. The HRH style still technically exists, and there has been no confirmation on whether it will be taken away entirely.
Removing a royal’s titles is a delicate political choice. For the Dukedom, it would take both public support and political will to make such a move happen. Because of these legal and political steps, the process is rarely used and can be slow to progress.
Epstein Scandal and the Fall of Prince Andrew’s Public Role
Prince Andrew’s downfall in public life began with his connection to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted billionaire pedophile accused of running a network for sexually exploiting minors.
Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s accusers, claimed that Prince Andrew sexually assaulted her when she was 17 years old and being trafficked by Epstein. Prince Andrew has denied all the allegations, insisting he has no memory of meeting Giuffre. Despite his denial, a widely circulated photo shows him standing next to her, with Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell in the background.
In 2022, Prince Andrew reached a financial settlement with Giuffre in a US civil lawsuit, avoiding a trial. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, and there was no admission of guilt in the agreement.
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Prince Andrew’s public life terminated because of the controversy. He no longer carries out official duties for the royal family and has largely been absent from public events. His association with Epstein and the allegations against him have left lasting damage to his reputation.
The YouGov poll’s findings reflect the continued anger many people feel about Prince Andrew’s actions and associations. The combination of legal disputes, scandal, and unflattering public revelations has made him one of the least popular royals in modern history.