MPs demand a law to formally strip Prince Andrew of his royal titles

MPs are demanding legislation to formally strip Prince Andrew of his royal titles amid fresh allegations about his links to notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew last week said he was giving up his Duke of York title and honours to prevent the scandal surrounding him distracting from the work of King Charles.

It comes ahead of the publication of Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir, which is titled Nobody's Girl, on Tuesday.

Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, alleged that she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three occasions, including when she was 17, after being trafficked by Epstein.

Andrew vigorously denies the allegations. He previously paid millions to Ms Giuffre to settle a civil sexual assault case, despite claiming never to have met her.

Although he voluntarily gave up the use of his titles on Friday, there are growing calls for Andrew to be formally stripped of his honours through an Act of Parliament.

Stephen Flynn, the SNP leader at Westminster, on Monday said there was 'no justification' for the Government not to bring forward legislation to remove titles from both Andrew and Lord Mandelson.

Lord Mandelson, a Labour peer, was sacked as Britain's ambassador to the US in September following fresh revelations about his friendship with Epstein. 

Mr Flynn, the MP for Aberdeen South, said he would 'not sit silent' while the family of Ms Giuffre and the British public are 'angry and aghast'.

'The family of Virginia Giuffre, whose life was destroyed, are angry and aghast,' he said.

'The public across these isles are angry and aghast and they both deserve to know that some MPs share their outrage.

'So I won't sit silent. If an Act of Parliament is required to strip the likes of Peter Mandelson and Prince Andrew of their titles then there can be no justification from this Labour Government as to why that is not immediately happening.'

Rachel Maskell also said Parliament should 'act' over removing Andrew's titles.

The York Central MP, who in 2022 introduced a private members' bill that would give the monarch powers to remove titles, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'It's a single clause bill which I'm proposing, so it wouldn't take up time, but it would make a real difference should these occurrences arise.

'And of course, any associations with individuals as apparent as somebody like Epstein could then be addressed in such a way.

'So I really do trust that Parliament will take this seriously and recognise there are opportunities here to address the wrongs of history and to ensure that the voices of victims and survivors are really heard and acted upon.'

Ms Maskell, who had the Labour whip taken off her for objections to the Government's welfare reforms, added: 'I do think it is for Parliament to act.

'I presume the technicalities of that would be that there would have to be a conversation between the Palace and Parliament to indicate that the King was willing to assume those powers.

'But of course, Parliament could press forward with action and legislation if it so chose. And I think we need to find a mechanism in order to achieve that. The private members' route would be one such measure.'

Nadia Whittome, the Labour MP for Nottingham East, said: 'It should be a given that the state removes Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's titles, rather than allowing him to hide behind voluntarily renouncing them and mealy-mouthed statements blaming his accusers.' 

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the Royal Family had taken 'the right course of action' over Andrew.

But she added that she did not think Buckingham Palace would want to 'detract from wider parliamentary business'.

She told Sky News: 'He holds that title by virtue of being the son of a monarch.

'We agree and support the decision the Royal Family and Prince Andrew have taken and the recent announcement that they've made.

'When you also hear the victims of Epstein and hear about the abuse that they endured, it's incredibly powerful to hear that.

'I think first and foremost in our minds ought to be those who suffered at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein and making sure that we never forget about putting victims front and centre.

'But I think in the specific case here, about what the Royal Family have done, we believe that's the right course of action.'

Asked whether the Government would give parliamentary time to remove the title, she said: 'I don't think the Royal Family would want to detract from wider parliamentary business.

'There are always routes for parliamentarians to put forward debates, to find time for debates if that's what backbench MPs would wish to do.

'But I think we've seen the right course of action in terms of what the Royal Family have done so far.'

Ms Phillipson later said stripping Andrew of his right to be a prince 'isn't a matter for the Government'.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'This isn't a matter for the Government, and we do support the statement that the Royal Family issued and the action that's been taken.'

The Labour MP added: 'We would be guided by the Royal Family in this and I imagine the Royal Family would want Parliament to continue to dedicate our time to our wider legislative programme, but we will be guided by the monarch.

'It's why we do support the statement that was issued and the action that has been taken.

'But of course, Prince Andrew holds the title of Prince because he is the son of a monarch, and that's the situation that we have.'

Asked why it was not a matter for the Government, Ms Phillipson said: 'Because the Government by long-standing convention does not involve itself in matters concerning the Royal Family.

'The Royal Family don't involve themselves in the business of Government in terms of inserting themselves into the discussion and it's right that we respect that going the other way as well.'