In light of the sexual allegations against Prince Andrew, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday the revocation of military ranks, titles, and royal patronage from the Queen Elizabeth II's son "with her consent and approval." The palace's statement followed a letter from over 150 veterans of the navy and army requesting the Queen to strip Prince Andrew of all his military ranks and titles, amid ongoing legal troubles for the Queen's son involved in a sexual assault case in the United States.
Buckingham Palace stated that "with the Queen's consent and approval, the military ranks and titles of the Duke of York and royal patronage have been returned to the Queen. The Duke of York will not undertake any public duties and will defend himself in this case as a private citizen."
On Wednesday, a local judge in the United States rejected a motion to dismiss a civil lawsuit against Andrew filed by Virginia Giuffre, an American woman who claims he sexually assaulted her when she was seventeen years old. Judge Louis Kaplan denied a plea from Andrew's attorney that Giuffre's lawsuit should be dismissed at an early stage due to an old legal settlement she made with Jeffrey Epstein, the businessman she alleges arranged the sexual encounter with her friend, the prince, and confirmed that he does not rule on the truth of the allegations.
Andrew's lawyers stated that the prince never sexually assaulted Giuffre and that he "categorically denies Giuffre's false allegations against him," as they put it.
