Prince Andrew Renunciates Royal Title Amidst Sexual Abuse Allegations

Web Editor

October 18, 2025

a man in a suit and tie standing in a room with other men in suits and ties behind him, David Simpso

Background on Virginia Giuffre and Her Allegations

Virginia Giuffre, an American woman, accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault in multiple encounters, including one when she was 17 years old. Her allegations have sparked a scandal that threatens the British monarchy.

Who is Virginia Giuffre?

Virginia Giuffre, also known as Virginia Roberts, is an American woman who has accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault. She claims to have had three separate encounters with the prince, one of which occurred when she was 17. Giuffre alleges that Prince Andrew treated having sex with her as his “birthright.”

Prince Andrew’s Renunciation and Its Impact

Prince Andrew, 65, has decided to renounce his royal title, the Duke of York, following new revelations about his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This decision comes under pressure from his brother, Prince Charles, as the monarchy attempts to resolve a damaging scandal.

Giuffre’s brother, Sky Roberts, expressed his satisfaction with the news, stating that Virginia would be “very proud” of this development. He emphasized that her years of advocacy for justice are now bearing fruit.

Upcoming Visits and Giuffre’s Book

Prince Andrew’s renunciation precedes a state visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the Vatican, where they will meet Pope Leon XIV. This meeting risks being overshadowed by new revelations from Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, “Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice,” set to be released this week.

Giuffre’s book reportedly details her allegations of sexual encounters with Prince Andrew, including one when she was 17. She also claims that the prince treated having sex with her as his “birthright.”

Flight Records and Democratic Inquiry

Following the announcement, members of a U.S. House of Representatives committee released documents showing Prince Andrew’s travel history on Jeffrey Epstein’s private jet. The records indicate that the prince traveled with Epstein at least four times.

  • Two trips in 1999
  • One trip in 2000 with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
  • One trip in 2006 with Ghislaine Maxwell

“A Heroine”

Sky Roberts, Virginia Giuffre’s brother, offered to meet with British Parliament members and even King Charles III to present further evidence. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging Giuffre’s heroism and the remaining uncovered aspects of the Epstein case.

Prince Andrew’s Public Retreat

Prince Andrew, the third child of the late Queen Elizabeth II, withdrew from public life following a controversial television interview in 2019. In this interview, he showed no remorse for his friendship with Epstein or empathy for the financier’s victims.

He was also stripped of his military titles in 2022. In the controversial interview, Prince Andrew claimed to have ended his relationship with Epstein in 2010. However, recent revelations suggest he maintained contact with Epstein after this date.

In a February 2011 email, Prince Andrew wrote, “Let’s keep in touch, we’ll play again soon!” according to British media.

Jeffrey Epstein’s Death and Ongoing Allegations

Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking of minors. New revelations, including Prince Andrew’s alleged relationship with a Chinese spy and his ties to Epstein, have exasperated Buckingham Palace. These factors led Prince Andrew to acknowledge that the accusations “harm the work of His Majesty and the royal family.”

Prince Andrew has consistently denied the sexual assault allegations and avoided a New York trial by settling with Giuffre in 2021. Tragically, Giuffre took her own life at age 41 in April last year.

Key Questions and Answers

  • Who is Virginia Giuffre? Virginia Giuffre is an American woman who accused Prince Andrew of sexual assault, claiming multiple encounters with him, including one when she was 17.
  • What is Prince Andrew renouncing? Prince Andrew is renouncing his royal title, the Duke of York, following new revelations about his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
  • What is the significance of Virginia Giuffre’s brother’s statement? Sky Roberts, Virginia Giuffre’s brother, expressed satisfaction with Prince Andrew’s decision to renounce his title, stating that Virginia would be proud of this development.
  • What is the content of Virginia Giuffre’s book? Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, “Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice,” details her allegations of sexual encounters with Prince Andrew, including one when she was 17.
  • What are the flight records showing about Prince Andrew’s travels? Flight records reveal that Prince Andrew traveled with Jeffrey Epstein at least four times on the financier’s private jet.