Why King Charles Can't Remove Prince Andrew's Royal Titles amid Epstein Files Reveal

Prince Andrew was named in the court filings that were unsealed on Wednesday, but his royal status likely won't change

Prince Andrew's ties with Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced on Wednesday when he was named in court filings that were unsealed Wednesday night. However, it's unlikely that King Charles will take away his brother's royal titles in light of the new information. In fact, removing titles is not in the monarch's power.

The large cache of newly revealed documents stems from a 2015 lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre against Epstein, who died by suicide while awaiting trial on federal conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. In the filings, Johanna Sjoberg alleged Prince Andrew placed his hand on her breast while posing for a group photo with Giuffre, Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and a puppet bearing Andrew's likeness.

Queen Elizabeth's son, 63, previously admitted to knowing Epstein but has denied any wrongdoing. In 2019, Prince Andrew sat down for a bombshell interview with the BBC, where he also said he had “no recollection of ever meeting" Giuffre, who alleges she was forced to have sex with the royal three times between 1999 and 2002 in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island owned by Epstein when she was 17 years old.

Following the interview, Prince Andrew announced his decision to "step back from public duties."

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“It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support,” he said in the statement. “Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission.”

“I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein. His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure. I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives. Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required."

After a civil sexual assault lawsuit was filed by Giuffre, Queen Elizabeth stripped Prince Andrew of his military titles and patronages in 2022. The decision to strip her son of his titles and affiliations was "widely discussed" within the senior ranks of the royal family, a royal source confirms to PEOPLE, likely meaning talks between Queen Elizabeth, then-Prince Charles and Prince William.

An out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed amount was reached in February 2022.

Despite stepping back from public duties and losing his military affiliations, Prince Andrew retained his title as the Duke of York and kept his place in the line of succession to the throne, which is currently eighth behind Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's two children. However, he would no longer use the style "His Royal Highness" in any official capacity.

Prince Andrew has also continued to attend family events. Most recently. he joined the royal family during their annual Christmas Day outing to church.

It's unlikely that King Charles, 75, would attempt to remove Prince Andrew's royal status or titles, as their mother did not take that step. But Gert's Royals reports that the King doesn't have the power to remove the royal titles.

"Parliament can remove titles. But they will find it difficult in this case. The legislative branch (Parliament) or executive branch (Honors Forfeiture Committee) don’t have the powers to decide if someone is guilty of a crime," the blog said on X. It is the judicial branch (Courts)’s job to determine if someone is guilty. And then other branches can act on that decision. And since there have never been any charges or conviction against Prince Andrew, in the eyes of the U.K. government, he is innocent."

There is currently a bill that would enable a monarch to have the power to remove titles, but it would have to go through several steps to be enacted.

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Although Parliament hasn't hinted that they plan to remove Prince Andrew's titles, his step back from royal life has been a topic of conversation that promoted some changes. Prince Andrew — as well as Prince Harry, who relocated to California in 2020 after stepping back from his senior royal role — was one of King Charles' four Counsellors of State, royals who can stand in for the monarch on official duties if he is abroad or unwell. Drawn from the monarch's spouse and the first four people in the line of succession to the throne who are over the age of 21, those were Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew and Andrew's eldest daughter, Princess Beatrice.

British Parliament decided to make Princess Anne and Prince Edward additional Counsellors of State in Dec. 2022. The legislation was "fast-tracked" through both houses to avoid the potential for "an awkward constitutional problem" involving Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, the BBC reported.

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