MPs have moved to table a parliamentary motion to strip Prince Andrew of his Duke of York title, intensifying pressure on the government and Buckingham Palace. The move follows new allegations in the posthumous memoir of Jeffrey Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexual abuse on multiple occasions and said his aides hired online trolls to harass her.
The motion, lodged by the Scottish National Party (SNP), urges the government to introduce legislation to formally remove his titles. Although such a measure would require an act of parliament, ministers have indicated that no action will be taken unless requested by the palace.
Questions Over Prince Andrew’s Royal Lodge Residence
The controversy deepened after it was revealed that Prince Andrew has not paid rent for over two decades for his 30-room Royal Lodge residence in Windsor. The lease agreement, released under freedom of information laws, shows that Andrew paid £1 million for the lease and at least £7.5 million in refurbishments, while paying only “one peppercorn (if demanded)” in rent annually since 2003.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the prince should “pay his way” and that the matter should be handled fairly. She added that the revelations about his ties with Epstein “make for very sober reading” and should prompt reflection.
Limited Parliamentary Powers to Remove Royal Titles
Under current law, MPs cannot directly revoke royal titles without an act of parliament — something rarely pursued. Early Day Motions (EDMs), such as the one introduced by the SNP, carry little formal power but serve to publicly pressure the government. By Tuesday afternoon, 18 MPs had signed the motion, though none from Labour, suggesting limited cross-party traction.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: “If Westminster parties remain slow in removing Prince Andrew’s titles, the SNP will do all we can to force them to act. The public knows this is the right thing to do, and the victims know it’s the right thing to do.”
Renewed Scrutiny and Public Outrage
The renewed scrutiny of Prince Andrew’s royal privileges comes amid ongoing public anger over his relationship with Epstein. Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019 and was stripped of military and royal patronages in 2022 after reaching an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre in a civil case.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell, who represents York Central, previously proposed a bill to empower parliament or the monarch to remove royal titles. She said it was time to resolve the issue “once and for all,” noting that similar legislation was enacted in 1917 to strip titles from peers who fought against Britain during the First World War.
