Prince Andrew says he will no longer use his royal titles after new details came to light about his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move follows pressure from King Charles and Prince William to step back from royal duties.

London

Prince Andrew has announced he will no longer use the title Duke of York, a designation originally bestowed upon him by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. In a statement, he cited that ongoing accusations are distracting from the royal family's work, though he continues to deny all allegations against him. Reports indicate that the decision was made under pressure from King Charles and Prince William. 

The latest controversy involves a leaked email from 2011, reportedly sent by Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of a photo with Virginia Dufresne, who accused the prince of sexual misconduct. Andrew has previously stated in a BBC interview that he ended his relationship with Epstein before these events. Virginia Dufresne, who passed away earlier this year, is set to have her memoir published, in which she details her allegations against Andrew.

Prince Andrew drops royal titles

Andrew will still be a prince but he'll no longer use the title Duke of York, an honour given to him by his mother the late Queen. In a statement he said continued accusations distract from the work of the royal family though he still denies the allegations against him. He was reportedly pressured into the move by his brother King Charles and nephew Prince William. The latest scandal came in the form of a leaked email apparently written from Prince Andrew to Geoffrey Epstein in 2011. Just after this photo emerged of Andrew with one of Epstein's victims Virginia Dufresne who claimed she was forced to have sex with the prince. Andrew reportedly wrote we are in this together and play some more soon. But it would be it would be a considerable stretch to say that he was a very very close friend. Yet in this infamous interview with the BBC Andrew claimed he'd ended his relationship with the convicted sex offender well before that. I said look because of what has happened I don't think it is appropriate that we should remain in contact. Virginia Dufresne took her own life earlier this year but her memoir comes out tomorrow in which she describes Prince Andrew as quote entitled as if having sex with me was his birthright.

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Britain's Prince Andrew said on Friday he would give up using his title of Duke of York following years of criticism about his behavior and connections to the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

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