Overview
- On Oct. 17, Prince Andrew announced with the king’s agreement that he will no longer use the Duke of York title or other honors, reiterating his denials of wrongdoing.
- Multiple royal experts say the title has become too toxic to bestow on Prince Louis, predicting it will remain unused rather than revive a tradition tied to the monarch’s second son.
- Formally stripping the peerage has not occurred, and legal experts note it would require an Act of Parliament; absent legislation, the title returns to the Crown on Andrew’s death.
- The custom of granting the York dukedom dates to 1474, but advisors argue the association with Andrew’s Epstein scandal makes breaking with precedent prudent.
- Commentators point to the Duke of Edinburgh as a potential future option for one of William and Catherine’s children because Prince Edward holds it for life only, while William and Kate are said to prioritize a more ordinary upbringing before assigning new titles.