Prince Andrew to give up his titles

London - Prince Andrew – younger brother of King Charles III- has announced that he is to give up his titles, including the Duke of York, in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein and Virginia Giuffre scandals.

His announcement came just hours after the King was reported to be considering stripping Andrew of a title amid the latest revelations about his friendship with convicted paedophile Epstein.

It also comes days before the publication of a memoir by trafficking victim Ms Giuffre, to whom Andrew paid millions to settle a civil case after she accused him of sexual assault.

“I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.

“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me,” Prince Amdrew said in a statement.

His decision to put all of his titles “in abeyance” was prompted by huge pressure from the King.

 The Prince will also give up his membership of The Order of the Garter - the most senior order of knighthood in the British honours system.

The Prince had also already agreed to put his HRH title in abeyance and his role as Counsellor of State is inactive as he is not a working member of the Royal family.

His ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, will also relinquish her title and will simply be known as Sarah Ferguson.

The decision was taken in close consultation with the King and the Prince of Wales, reports said.

Andrew might be seen as having to jump before he was pushed, as the Palace had seemed increasingly exasperated at the scandals that kept swirling around him,  BBC's royal correspondent Sean Coughlan commented.