Cross-party group of British MPs back legislation to remove Andrew’s titles
Downing Street insists the prince’s future is a matter for Buckingham Palace, but the prime minister is facing pressure on multiple fronts to remove Andrew’s title by force.
Members of Britain’s parliament are beginning a parliamentary effort to strip Prince Andrew of his royal titles after warnings that he is tarnishing “the reputation of the monarchy”.
A growing number of Labour backbenchers have demanded that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer intervene by backing legislation being drawn up for tabling in the Commons.
Last week Andrew said he would no longer be known as the Duke of York after a discussion with the King and criticism of his friendship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The prince maintained his innocence, but said he was acting to avoid becoming a distraction from the royal family’s work. However, he kept the title of prince and will officially retain his dukedom unless forcibly removed by an act of parliament.
Downing Street continued to state that the prince’s future was a matter for Buckingham Palace, but the prime minister is facing pressure on multiple fronts, including three attempts to remove Andrew’s title by force.
A bill was to be proposed on Wednesday by Rachael Maskell, an MP who had the Labour whip suspended in July. Simultaneously, a cross-party letter organised by Freddie van Mierlo, the Liberal Democrat MP for Henley & Thame, will be sent to Sir Keir.
Another attempt to apply pressure has been started by the Scottish National Party, through a mechanism known as an early-day motion. It has attracted 21 signatories.
Ms Maskell was expected to set out her bill in full on Wednesday. She told The Times: “It is only right that there is scrutiny and question over those kinds of behaviours. That’s what’s really important – that these people should not hold power and privilege.”
Eleven MPs are understood to have agreed to be co-sponsors of her bill, similar to one she tabled in 2022 that would have granted parliament the power to remove titles. That bill never passed its first hurdle.
About a dozen MPs have signed Mr van Mierlo’s letter. It reads: “For too long, the reputation of the monarchy and the British state have been put at risk by Prince Andrew, while the victims of Jeffrey Epstein have gone unrecognised. We now, the under-signed, call on the government to bring forward legislation, as a matter of urgency, to revoke these titles fully from Prince Andrew.”
Labour whips privately predicted that any motion to strip the prince of his titles would pass a vote. However, they believe the prospect of legislation being considered is unlikely, as the accompanying debate would be embarrassing for the royal family.
MPs are protected from being sued for defamation by parliamentary privilege, meaning new claims could be made in the House of Commons chamber.
Sir Keir’s official spokesman said it was “obviously a matter for the speaker [of the House]” whether to allow a debate on the SNP’s early day motion.
He added: “Prince Andrew has already confirmed he will not use his titles. We support the judgment made by the royal family. In terms of our focus and thoughts, they are firmly with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, who suffered and continue to suffer because of the abuse they experienced at his hands. Those allegations are being looked at by the Met.”
The Times
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