A new law is set to be presented in Parliament today, allowing the King to officially remove Prince Andrew’s dukedom. Rachael Maskell, the Member of Parliament for York Central, is proposing a bill that would give the monarch the authority to strip titles. This move comes in response to Prince Andrew’s decision to relinquish his Duke of York title, knighthood, and role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter amidst increasing controversy surrounding his connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
Despite denying any wrongdoing, Prince Andrew still holds his dukedom, which can only be revoked through parliamentary action. Ms. Maskell, an independent MP, emphasized the need for Parliament or the monarch to have the power to take away titles. Her proposed legislation, named The Removal of Titles Bill, aims to address this issue and she hopes for broad support from Parliament.
The bill’s passage is dependent on Government support, with ministers currently looking to Buckingham Palace for guidance. Nevertheless, there is mounting pressure on the Government to revise the law in light of ongoing allegations. Once the bill is formally introduced, Ms. Maskell intends to share copies with Buckingham Palace and Keir Starmer to garner additional backing.
The proposed legislation extends beyond Prince Andrew and encompasses other peerages, potentially affecting members of the House of Lords like Baroness Michelle Mone and Lord Mandelson. Ms. Maskell clarified that while the current situation prompted the bill, it is designed to be applicable in future scenarios involving a wide range of titles, including peerages, baronets, earls, dukes, princes, and princesses.
Prince Andrew is set to relinquish not only his Duke of York title but also his other wedding day titles, knighthood, and Garter role. The existing Titles Deprivation Act of 1917, originally aimed at revoking titles from individuals who fought against Britain in World War I, is deemed outdated for this purpose.
A recent YouGov poll indicates that a significant majority of Britons, with 63% strongly in favor and 17% somewhat supporting the idea, believe that Prince Andrew should be formally stripped of his dukedom. Only a small percentage opposed the move, illustrating widespread public sentiment on the matter.