SNP lodges parliamentary motion to remove titles from Prince Andrew

The SNP has lodged a parliamentary motion that if successful would force the UK Government to introduce legislation to remove Prince Andrew’s dukedom with immediate effect.  

Last week it was reported that Prince Andrew would no longer use his royal titles, following a conversation with King Charles III.  

The Metropolitan Police is looking into claims Andrew asked a protection officer for personal information about Virginia Giuffre, who said she had been forced to have sex with the prince, a claim that he has consistently denied.  

Her memoir, published posthumously this week, repeats the claims she was trafficked for sex by Jeffery Epstein to his circle of friends, including Prince Andrew, which the prince has also strongly denied. 

The SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said that “power and privilege” had protected those in the Epstein scandal for too long and the legislation to formally remove Prince Andrew’s titles must be brought forward without “any further excuses and any further delay”. 

Last month, the SNP lodged a similar motion to pressure the Labour government into removing the peerage of Peter Mandelson, another figure who has been linked to the Epstein scandal. 

The SNP’s Westminster leader is now proposing that the government introduces a short bill which would remove Prince Andrew’s dukedom and Peter Mandelson’s peerage.  

Flynn said: “If the Westminster parties remain stubbornly slow in removing Prince Andrew’s titles – the SNP will do all we can to force them to act. 

“Prince Andrew’s titles can only be removed by an Act of Parliament – therefore this SNP motion is a way to pile pressure on the UK Labour government to bring forward that legislation immediately. 

“The only real question is what Keir Starmer’s government is waiting for? The public knows this is the right thing to do, and even more importantly the victims at the heart of the Epstein scandal know that it’s the right thing to do. It needs to be done without any further excuses and any further delay.” 

He added: “If the Labour Party fails to act against Prince Andrew, they are consciously choosing to sit on their hands and choosing to defend the indefensible – what reasons can the Labour government possibly have to protect a man who is hiding behind his privilege and position? 

“I sincerely hope for the sake of all Jeffrey Epstein’s victims, that Keir Starmer’s government changes course, supports this SNP motion and brings forward legislation to remove Prince Andrew’s titles and Peter Mandelson’s peerage immediately.” 

In 2022, the prince returned his military titles and royal patronages. He also stopped using the title His Royal Highness in an official capacity, after he was accused of sexual abuse in a civil case in the US.  

Andrew later settled the case brought against him by Giuffre, who alleged he sexually abused her when she was under the age of 18. This is a claim the prince has consistently denied.