Prince Andrew has formally relinquished all of his royal titles in a landmark decision that has left many wondering what comes next for his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.

In a statement released this evening, the Duke said that after discussions with King Charles III and the “immediate wider family,” it was agreed that the “continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.”

“As a result,” he added, “I have decided to no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me.”

Impact on Sarah Ferguson

The announcement has immediately prompted questions about how the change will affect Sarah Ferguson. According to The Telegraph, the former Duchess of York will now be known simply as Sarah Ferguson in an official capacity.

The move means she will relinquish her decades-old title, which she received upon marrying Prince Andrew in 1986.

Last month, Ferguson was also dropped from all her private charity patronages after leaked emails showed she had written to Jeffrey Epstein following his conviction, describing him as a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend.”

Pressure Mounts on the Prince

Prince Andrew’s decision reportedly follows mounting pressure from the King, who has grown increasingly frustrated by the scandals surrounding his brother.

Recent headlines have reignited controversy over Andrew’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and an alleged Chinese spy.

Despite claiming in his infamous 2019 Newsnight interview that he cut contact with Epstein in December 2010, newly surfaced emails suggest otherwise.

In one exchange dated February 28, 2011—just a day after the now-infamous photo of Andrew and Virginia Giuffre surfaced—the Duke allegedly wrote to Epstein that they would “have to rise above it,” adding that the two would “play together soon.”

The Fallout

Giuffre accused Andrew of having sex with her when she was 17, one of several victims of Epstein’s trafficking network. The Duke, who consistently denied the claims, reached an out-of-court settlement in 2022 reportedly worth £12 million to avoid a civil trial in the U.S. The settlement did not include an admission of guilt.

Now, under growing royal pressure, Andrew’s titles will be placed in “abeyance,” and he will also lose his membership in the prestigious Order of the Garter.

However, the move does not affect his princely title — he will remain Prince Andrew, a title granted by birth as the son of Queen Elizabeth II.