Prince Andrew announced in a statement on Friday that he would relinquish his royal titles and honours along with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. Now, the former couple, who were once known as the Duke and Duchess of York, will now simply be referred to as Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. The announcement came in the midst of both Andrew and Sarah's emails to the late convicted paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein, being published. While the pair will no longer be referred to as the Duke and Duchess of York, they've also quietly lost two other lesser-known royal titles in the process.
On their wedding day in 1986, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were bestowed the dukedom of York – making them the Duke and Duchess of York respectively. The grant of a Dukedom is a long-standing tradition within the British royal family and is said to mark a prince's transition into marriage, where he will be the head of his own family unit. It's also a way of officially recognising his new status and role within the wider royal family.
As well as this, traditionally, British royals are given three titles on their wedding day, one from England, one from Scotland and one from Ireland. As well as being bestowed with the Duke of York title, Andrew was also made Earl of Inverness (Scotland) and Baron Killyleagh (Northern Ireland). Sarah, by extension, became the Countess of Inverness and Baroness Killyleagh.
Inverness, which is in the far north of Scotland, is just one hour away from the Prince's school, Gordonstoun, which was also attended by King Charles and Prince Philip. Meanwhile, as the Baron of Killyleagh in the north of Ireland, there are several dedications to the Prince including the eponymously titled: 'Prince Andrew Way' in Carrickfergus. When Andrew relinquished the use of his title 'Duke of York' on Friday, the decision included his subsidiary titles as well.
"Andrew was given the titles Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1986, when he married Sarah Ferguson. Working members of the royal family typically use their subsidiary titles when visiting respective countries," HELLO!'s Online Royal Reporter, Danielle Stacey explains.
© Getty"For example, the Prince of Wales is known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland and Baron Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland. However, Andrew stepped back from public life in 2019, and his decision to relinquish his remaining titles and honours has been the latest stage of an ongoing saga surrounding the Prince."
© Getty Images© Getty Images*Month unconfirmed
June 2000
Epstein and Maxwell attend a party at Windsor Castle to mark Prince Andrew's 40th birthday, the Princess Royal’s 50th, the Queen Mother’s 100th and Princess Margaret's 70th, hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.
March 2001
Later, in 2014, Virginia Giuffre alleges that at age 17 she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with Prince Andrew on three occasions. The first occasion allegedly occurred in Maxwell’s London townhouse in March 2001. In the court filings and in her memoir released in October 2025, she claimed the other occasions occurred at Epstein's New York mansion and his private Caribbean island.
June 2008
Epstein admits to prostituting minors and is convicted, receiving an 18‑month prison sentence.
2009*
Epstein's former housekeeper, Juan Alessi, testifies during his employer's trial that Andrew received ''daily massages'' at Epstein's Florida home.
July 2009
Epstein is released from prison.
December 2010
Andrew is photographed with Epstein in New York's Central Park.
February 2011
The Mail on Sunday publishes a photo of Virginia's alleged first meeting with Prince Andrew. Andrew later emails Epstein saying ''we are in this together''.
March 2011
Alastair Watson – who spent nine years as Andrew’s private secretary – writes to The Times saying Andrew met Epstein in the ''early 1990s''. Yet eight years later, Andrew told Newsnight that he first encountered Epstein through his ''girlfriend back in 1999'', later saying he saw Epstein ''infrequently and probably no more than once or twice a year''.
July 2011
Andrew resigns as UK trade envoy shortly.
December 2014
In a Florida court filing, Virginia alleges being trafficked by Epstein and also alleges to have been forced to have sex with him, Prince Andrew and other men. The judge later said in 2015 the claims are ''immaterial and impertinent'' to the case against Epstein.
January 2015
Buckingham Palace denies Andrew has committed any impropriety after he is named in US documents linked to Epstein.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Andrew makes his first public engagement since the allegations. He says: ''I just wish to reiterate, and to reaffirm, the statements that have already been made on my behalf by Buckingham Palace.''
2015*
In a civil suit filed against Ghislaine Maxwell, Giuffre testifies that Epstein paid her $15,000 to have sex with Andrew.
May 2016
During a deposition in her case against Maxwell, it emerges that Giuffre lent the infamous photo to the FBI in 2011 but allegedly last saw it packed in a box and shipped from Colorado to Sydney sometime between between 2011 and 2016, when she emigrated to Australia.
June 2018
Alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo visits Buckingham Palace twice to meet Andrew. He is also said to gain entry to St James’s Palace and Windsor Castle after being invited by the Prince.
2019*
A newly released document includes a claim from Johanna Sjoberg, who has said she was an associate of Jeffrey Epstein, alleging that Prince Andrew touched her breast while she was sitting on a couch in Epstein's Manhattan apartment in 2001 - an allegation he has always denied.
August 2019
Epstein is found dead in his prison cell on 10 August, an apparent suicide, after being charged with sex trafficking.
Separately David Rogers, a pilot on Epstein's private jet, claims Andrew was a passenger on past flights with Epstein and Giuffre. Rogers also testifies that Epstein, Andrew and Giuffre travelled to the US Virgin Islands on 11 April 2001.
Buckingham Palace says the report contains ''inconsistencies'' and notes that in some cases Andrew was on a different continent.
In a statement, the Palace says Andrew is ''appalled by the recent reports of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes''.
Andrew also issues a statement: ''At no stage during the limited time I spend with him (Epstein) do I see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently leads to his arrest and conviction.''
November 2019
BBC Newsnight broadcasts an interview in which Andrew speaks about his relationship with Epstein ''with no bars.'' He says he has ''no recollection'' of ever meeting Giuffre and adds he could not have had sex with her in March 2001 because he was at Pizza Express with his daughter, Beatrice, that day.
He also says he ''does not regret'' his friendship with Epstein, though he admits he should not have visited him in New York in 2010 to break off their friendship.
Four days after the interview, he announces he is stepping back from royal duties ''for the foreseeable future'' with permission from Queen Elizabeth II.
He says he ''deeply sympathises'' with Epstein’s victims and is willing ''to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required.''
December 2019
Giuffre appeals to the British public in a BBC Panorama interview released in December 2019, urging them to ''stand up beside me… help me fight this fight'' and ''not accept this as being OK.''
January 2020
A US prosecutor claims Andrew has provided ''zero co‑operation'' in the Epstein sex trafficking inquiry.
US Attorney Geoffrey Berman speaks outside Epstein's Manhattan mansion saying Andrew's lawyers have been contacted by prosecutors and the FBI, who request to interview him.
March 2020
Andrew’s aide, Dominic Hampshire, writes to Yang Tengbo describing the alleged Chinese spy as one of ''Andrew's closest internal confidants''.
June 2020
Andrew's lawyers say he offered to assist the US Department of Justice ''on at least three occasions this year'' in their Epstein investigation.
Hours later, Berman says Andrew ''again seeks to falsely portray himself to the public as eager and willing to co‑operate,'' though he ''repeatedly declines'' requests to schedule an interview.
August 2021
Giuffre's lawyers file a civil suit against Andrew. The Prince is the only named defendant in the 15‑page claim, though Epstein and Maxwell are referenced throughout.
December 2021
Ghislaine Maxwell is convicted in New York of aiding Epstein’s sexual abuse of teenage girls.
January 2022
A US judge rules the civil case against Andrew may proceed.
Andrew is stripped of his military roles and royal patronages, and he relinquishes his HRH title. Buckingham Palace states Andrew ''continues not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.''
February 2022
Court documents reveal that Andrew and Giuffre reach a ''settlement in principle'' in the civil claim. The papers say Andrew promised to make a ''substantial donation'' to Giuffre’s charity ''in support of victims' rights'', and pledged to ''demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein.''
January 2024
Unsealed documents linked to Ms Giuffre’s civil claim against Ghislaine Maxwell revisit previously made allegations about Prince Andrew - including references to purported sex tapes and claims he was present at an event involving underage girls. Andrew has always denied any involvement in criminal activity.
December 2024
At a High Court hearing it emerges that Yang Tengbo, the alleged Chinese spy, is a ''close'' confidant of Andrew. Andrew issues a statement saying he ceased ''all contact'' with Yang once concerns arose.
Andrew is absent from the royal family's traditional gathering at Sandringham.
April 2025
Giuffre tragically dies by suicide aged 41 in Neergabby, Western Australia.
October 2025
An email reportedly sent by Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein in 2011 - in which he is said to have written, "We are in this together" - has been unearthed by The Sun and is being described as a potential "smoking gun." Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
As well as his peerage, Andrew also gave up his membership of the prestigious Order of the Garter. In 2006, the Prince was appointed a Royal Knight Companion in the Order of the Garter by his mother, Queen Elizabeth. Despite being stripped of his military titles and patronages in 2022 following backlash over his association with Jeffrey Epstein and accusations from Virginia Giuffre, Andrew did not initially lose the prestigious title of Royal Knight Companion. He was also still entitled to attend private events including lunches and investiture ceremonies.
Prince Andrew's continued controversies
In 2019, the Prince appeared on BBC's Newsnight, where he was interviewed by Emily Maitlis over his long-standing connection to convicted paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein. He was also questioned over accusations from the late Virginia Giuffre, who accused the royal of engaging in sexual acts with her while under the age of 18.
© Getty ImagesAt the time, Andrew told Emily Maitlis: "I can absolutely categorically tell you it never happened. I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever." He also claimed to have no memory of the photograph with Ms Giuffre being taken and has questioned whether it was his own hand in the image.
Despite his claims on Newsnight, in 2025, The Sun and the Mail on Sunday reported emails allegedly sent from the Prince to the convicted paedophile. "I'm just as concerned for you! Don't worry about me! It would seem we are in this together and will have to rise above it. Otherwise, keep in close touch and we'll play some more soon!!!!"
© Getty ImagesReports of the Prince's correspondence, which were dated February 28 2011, appear to contradict claims in his Newsnight appearance where he maintained that he had ceased contact with the disgraced financier three months earlier, in December 2010. According to The Sun, the email was sent from Andrew's official email address, which had the automated signature "HRH The Duke of York KG". Andrew was no longer permitted to use the style HRH after January 2022, when he was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages. As of Friday, he will no longer use the 'Duke of York' title nor 'KG', which stands for Knight of the Garter.
