After being named in several high-profile scandals which he has denied, UK royal Prince Andrew has officially announced that he is giving up his titles, including the Duke of York. This unexpected and dramatic move that has left royal watchers buzzing. The announcement comes after years of intense scrutiny over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and other controversies, with growing pressure for Buckingham Palace to take decisive action.In a personal statement, the prince emphasized that he continues to “vigorously deny the accusations” against him. He explained that discussions with King Charles, Prince William, and his wider family concluded that the ongoing allegations were distracting from the work of the Royal Family. “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first,” he said, adding that he had already stepped back from public life five years ago.As per reports, with King Charles III’s agreement– who is also his elder brother–, Prince Andrew will no longer use his Duke of York title or associated honours, including membership in the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most prestigious British order of chivalry. He will, however, retain his status as a prince, but his public role will be even more diminished.Meanwhile, his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also lose her royal title of the Duchess of York, though their daughters will continue to be princesses. Andrew is expected to remain at his Windsor home, the Royal Lodge, under a private lease extending until 2078, reported the BBC.Prince Andrew’s controversial life and scandalsAndrew’s life over the past few years has been marked by a series of scandals. From financial controversies to allegations of sexual misconduct involving Epstein and his late associate Ghislaine Maxwell, the spotlight has rarely strayed far from Andrew. He settled a high-profile court case with Virginia Giuffre in 2022, a case stemming from accusations that he had sexually abused her when she was 17. Andrew has repeatedly denied all claims.Sky Roberts, Giuffre’s brother, commented on the news of Andrew relinquishing his titles, saying it brought mixed emotions but that his late sister “would be very proud.”Andrew’s controversies extend beyond Epstein. In 2019, he famously claimed during a BBC Newsnight interview that he had cut ties with Epstein in 2010, only for emails from 2011 to surface showing he remained in contact. More recently, he has been linked to Chinese businessman Yang Tengbo (aka Chris Yang), identified as an alleged spy in a High Court judgement— though Andrew’s office insists no sensitive discussions took place.The prince has also been named in complex financial disputes, such as a court case involving a Turkish millionaire, highlighting large monetary transactions though no wrongdoing was alleged. Notably, a £750,000 gift was returned during the proceedings.For years, Buckingham Palace has quietly expressed frustration over the continual scandals surrounding Andrew. His latest step—giving up the Duke of York title— appears to be an attempt to shield the Royal Family from further distractions and public disgrace. Despite the controversies, the prince remains a figure of fascination, with the public closely watching every development in this ongoing royal saga.