Keir Starmer is under pressure to amend legislation in order to officially revoke Prince Andrew’s titles.
Following heightened controversy surrounding his connections to Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew voluntarily relinquished his Duke of York title, knighthood, and role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter on Friday. However, he still maintains his dukedom, which can only be rescinded through an act of Parliament.
Rachael Maskell, the MP for York Central, is advocating for the creation of a procedure that would enable the monarch to withdraw honors, including peerages. She has previously introduced a private members bill on this matter.
Ms. Maskell, an independent MP, emphasized the importance of Parliament taking decisive action, stating that it could provide a means to address historical injustices and amplify the voices of victims and survivors.
The current legislation, the Titles Deprivation Act of 1917, was crafted to strip peerages and royal titles from individuals who collaborated with the enemy during World War I.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn expressed solidarity with Virginia Giuffre’s family, emphasizing the need for parliamentary action to remove titles from individuals like Prince Andrew.
Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville-Roberts advocated for holding royals accountable to the same standards as everyone else, emphasizing Parliament’s role in revoking privileges from those who abuse their positions.
Downing Street refrained from commenting on whether Parliament should pass a law to strip Prince Andrew of his titles, deferring to the Palace’s judgment and the King’s decisions regarding Andrew’s titles.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson affirmed support for Prince Andrew’s decision to surrender his titles but emphasized that the issue of his princely status falls outside the government’s jurisdiction, noting that such matters are within the royal family’s purview.