British Prince Andrew stripped of all military ranks and patronage | News from Germany about Europe

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain has deprived her son, Prince Andrew, of all military ranks, as well as royal patronage. An official statement from Buckingham Palace about this decision was published on Thursday, January 13.

“The Duke of York will no longer be in public office (as a member of the royal family. – Ed.), and will also appear in this trial as a private person,” the statement emphasizes. In the United States, the British prince was sued for the rape of a minor.

Prince Andrew denies rape allegations

Virginia Giuffre (file photo)

The alleged victim – 38-year-old American Virginia Giuffre – claims that she was “loaned” to the son of Elizabeth II by the American financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of organizing prostitution involving minors, as a minor. Now Giuffre demands damages from the prince.

Andrew denies the accusations, claiming he does not know Virginia Giuffre, and calls a fake photo of him with 17-year-old Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was found guilty of recruiting minors for Epstein.

Formally, Prince Andrew resigned from official duties back in 2019 amid a scandal that erupted after the son of the British queen said that he did not regret his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Although all of the prince’s military titles were temporarily withdrawn, he nominally retained his positions until today. Now the prince is forbidden to use the title “His Royal Majesty” and engage in charitable activities on behalf of the royal family.

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