Buckingham Palace Releases Rare Statement on Prince Andrew (and It’s Long Overdue)

As a long-time fan of the royals, the Prince Andrew scandal—and lack of action on the part of the royal family in regard to it—has been disheartening to watch. If you’ve been following the latest news, you’re aware that this week was a pivotal moment for the Duke of York: Facing a civil sexual assault lawsuit brought forth by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a judge in New York denied Andrew’s lawyers’ attempts to dismiss the case based on a technicality.

Now, Buckingham Palace is speaking out with a rare statement announcing a major change to Andrew’s royal status: “With The Queen’s approval and agreement, The Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen.”

Bottom line: This statement is a monumental shift as it marks efforts by the palace to distance themselves from Andrew and this scandal after suffering massive reputational damage. It also comes ahead of Queen Elizabeth marking 70 years on the throne on February 6 and a series of events scheduled for June to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. (According to People, the decision to strip Andrew of his military titles and HRH status was widely discussed by senior members of the royal family, which likely means Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Prince William.)

Andrew’s currently set to face a trial date between September and December 2022. But if he settles out of court, the queen’s statement appears to make clear that, as a private citizen, he’ll be paying for that himself. (Yet another hot button topic with Andrew.)

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