Prince Andrew returns all military affiliations and royal patronages to The Queen

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By Carina Murphy

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Prince Andrew has returned his military affiliations and royal patronages to the Queen.

In a statement on Thursday, Buckingham Palace said that the royal had returned them with his mother's "approval and agreement."

The news comes a day after the Duke of York's lawyers failed to have a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault dismissed.

"With The Queen’s approval and agreement, The Duke of York's military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen," the statement read.

"The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen," it added.

This crushing blow means that Prince Andrew - who is Queen Elizabeth II's third child and ninth in line to the throne - will no longer go by the title "His Royal Highness" in any official capacity.

He will also be stripped of his countless military titles and positions.

Having served in Britain's Royal Navy and flown a number of missions in 1982 during the British-Argentine Falkland war, Andrew was a decorated military man

As well as being a Vice-Admiral in the Navy, he also held high-ranking positions in the army and air force of Britain, Canada, and New Zealand.

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Prince Andrew attending the Trooping the Colour. Credit: Jeff Gilbert / Alamy

But pressure from veterans who served alongside him has led to the Queen stripping him of all his honorary and official military roles, The Guardian reports.

In an open letter to the palace addressing the Queen in her capacity as head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, 150 veterans of each service called for the Duke of York to be removed.

"We are particularly upset and angry that Prince Andrew remains a member of the armed forces and continues to hold military titles, positions and ranks," they wrote.

"It’s been eleven years since the press revealed Prince Andrew’s inappropriate friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Since that time Prince Andrew has shown himself to be uncooperative and less than truthful about that relationship."

The letter goes on claim that, considering his unethical conduct and the controversy surrounding accusations of sexual assault against him, the Prince's position in the armed forces "is now untenable".

It continues: "Were this any other senior military officer it is inconceivable that he would still be in post. Officers of the British armed forces must adhere to the very highest standards of probity, honesty, and honorable conduct. These are standards which Prince Andrew has fallen well short of."

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Credit: REUTERS / Alamy

It added: "He has brought the services he is associated with into disrepute".

"We are therefore asking that you take immediate steps to strip Prince Andrew of all his military ranks and titles and, if necessary, that he be dishonorably discharged," the letter finished.

Despite their best efforts, the Duke's lawyers have so far failed to dismiss a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexually assaulting Virginia Giuffre when she was 17.

The Prince now faces the prospect of appearing in open court later this year.

Featured Image Credit: Ian Hinchliffe / Alamy

Prince Andrew returns all military affiliations and royal patronages to The Queen

vt-author-image

By Carina Murphy

Article saved!Article saved!

Prince Andrew has returned his military affiliations and royal patronages to the Queen.

In a statement on Thursday, Buckingham Palace said that the royal had returned them with his mother's "approval and agreement."

The news comes a day after the Duke of York's lawyers failed to have a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault dismissed.

"With The Queen’s approval and agreement, The Duke of York's military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen," the statement read.

"The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen," it added.

This crushing blow means that Prince Andrew - who is Queen Elizabeth II's third child and ninth in line to the throne - will no longer go by the title "His Royal Highness" in any official capacity.

He will also be stripped of his countless military titles and positions.

Having served in Britain's Royal Navy and flown a number of missions in 1982 during the British-Argentine Falkland war, Andrew was a decorated military man

As well as being a Vice-Admiral in the Navy, he also held high-ranking positions in the army and air force of Britain, Canada, and New Zealand.

wp-image-1263141344 size-full
Prince Andrew attending the Trooping the Colour. Credit: Jeff Gilbert / Alamy

But pressure from veterans who served alongside him has led to the Queen stripping him of all his honorary and official military roles, The Guardian reports.

In an open letter to the palace addressing the Queen in her capacity as head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, 150 veterans of each service called for the Duke of York to be removed.

"We are particularly upset and angry that Prince Andrew remains a member of the armed forces and continues to hold military titles, positions and ranks," they wrote.

"It’s been eleven years since the press revealed Prince Andrew’s inappropriate friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Since that time Prince Andrew has shown himself to be uncooperative and less than truthful about that relationship."

The letter goes on claim that, considering his unethical conduct and the controversy surrounding accusations of sexual assault against him, the Prince's position in the armed forces "is now untenable".

It continues: "Were this any other senior military officer it is inconceivable that he would still be in post. Officers of the British armed forces must adhere to the very highest standards of probity, honesty, and honorable conduct. These are standards which Prince Andrew has fallen well short of."

wp-image-1263141345 size-full
Credit: REUTERS / Alamy

It added: "He has brought the services he is associated with into disrepute".

"We are therefore asking that you take immediate steps to strip Prince Andrew of all his military ranks and titles and, if necessary, that he be dishonorably discharged," the letter finished.

Despite their best efforts, the Duke's lawyers have so far failed to dismiss a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexually assaulting Virginia Giuffre when she was 17.

The Prince now faces the prospect of appearing in open court later this year.

Featured Image Credit: Ian Hinchliffe / Alamy