York MP Urges Parliament to Permanently Remove Prince Andrew’s Dukedom

A Member of Parliament (MP) from York has called for the formal removal of Prince Andrew’s dukedom by Parliament. Independent MP Rachael Maskell has proposed legislation that would empower either the monarch or Parliament to revoke royal titles, which is not currently permitted under British law. This move comes in light of ongoing scrutiny regarding Prince Andrew’s connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Maskell stated her intention to reintroduce a Removal of Titles Bill, first presented in 2022, to address what she views as a necessary legal change. “It would only be appropriate to bring forward legislation so that justice could be served,” she remarked in an interview with The i Paper. She emphasized that the controversy surrounding Prince Andrew has caused significant distress to survivors of abuse linked to Epstein.

The previous iteration of the bill was a presentation bill, a simple form of a private member’s bill that allows MPs to introduce draft legislation without debate. Such bills typically have a low chance of becoming law unless government time is allocated for discussion. Nonetheless, they serve as a means to express political intent and apply pressure on government officials.

At this time, it remains uncertain whether parliamentary time will be available for Maskell’s renewed effort. Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy, has indicated that the government would defer to the Royal Family regarding any decision to strip Andrew of his titles. “It’s really important as a government minister that I allow, and that we allow, the Royal Family to make its decisions on these questions,” Miliband stated.

Maskell has expressed her willingness to reach out to ministers to inquire about the possibility of scheduling parliamentary time for her proposal. “It seems clear that this would be welcomed by the palace,” she noted, suggesting that the current monarch should possess the authority to revoke titles. Her proposed legislation would either grant the King the power to remove titles or enable a grand committee of both Houses of Parliament to recommend such actions.

On January 13, 2023, Prince Andrew, now aged 65, publicly announced that he would cease using the Duke of York title due to “continued accusations” related to his association with Epstein. In a statement, he mentioned, “In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.”

Despite his decision to stop using the title, Andrew remains the legal Duke of York. The only relevant legislation, the Titles Deprivation Act 1917, was established during World War I to revoke titles from nobles who fought against the Crown or supported its enemies. This act has been applied only once, in 1919, and does not cover cases involving personal misconduct or reputational harm. As such, the King cannot unilaterally strip Andrew of his titles without new legislation.

Maskell’s earlier bill aimed to address this legal gap by granting the monarch explicit authority to revoke titles or allowing Parliament to recommend such actions. In 2022, the government declined to allocate time for this proposal, which Maskell argued was necessary to rectify a legal deficiency preventing action against individuals whose behavior has provoked public outrage.

Public sentiment in York has been largely in favor of removing Andrew’s title. A poll conducted by York Press in 2022 revealed that 80 percent of local residents supported the removal. Additionally, the York City Council voted to strip him of the Freedom of the City that same year.

The office of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has not indicated whether he would be willing to allocate parliamentary time for a vote on this matter. Nonetheless, MPs have the option to request a debate through the backbench business committee, which decides which motions are discussed in the Commons.

Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment regarding this situation, but as of now, no official response has been provided. The ongoing debate raises significant questions about the responsibilities and powers of the monarchy in relation to public accountability and the legislative framework governing royal honors.