Andrew to lose Duke of York title

[Flixon]

News banner from the Torygraph saying Andrew and Sarah are losing their titles. They will be ‘put into Abeyance’ Andrew also to lose the Order of the Garter. Sarah will be known as Sarah Ferguson, he retains ‘Prince’ as he is the son of HM QE2.

bloody good job !

Completely agree.

Inevitably there will be scandals involving his own children and presumably grandchildren, simply because they are human and because the media will be looking. If he creates a precedent of removing titles, then there will be a constant question of whether their behaviour meets requirements.

Not really. Both equally meaningless, and once you leave the UK even more meaningless.

I think only a minority of people in the UK could explain who the Duke of Kent is (or even recognise him in a picture).

⬆️
This.

This was all down to David Cameron and George Osborne. The SG replaced the Civil List and part of it was to ensure it never went down, only up. Which is ridiculous. It used to be voted on when it was the Civil List. No more.

Every five years the % the Monarchy receives is discussed between the Keeper of the Privy Purse, Chancellor and PM. In 2017 it went up 10% for a decade. For refurb of Buck House. I am looking forward to year after next when it will be reduced back down. And the next review is due next year. That will be interesting.

And why is the SG going up by 54% if the monarchy it's paying for is going to be so much smaller?

@CrimsonStoat The Sovereign Grant comes from the profits of the Crown Estate, which increased significantly over the previous year, hence the increase in the SG.
The Crown Estate profits are paid into the Treasury, and the government keeps 88% and gives 12% to the monarch in the form of the Sovereign Grant. It is only used for official spending (official duties and upkeep of royal palaces).
It is reviewed by parliament at the start of a new reign and every 5 years.

The king supports other members of the royal family where necessary via the Duchy of Lancaster.

Useful link if anyone is interested

Parliamentary briefing: Finances of Monarchy

He was sought by US investigators to discuss his relationship with Epstein, and in their phrasing he provided 'zero cooperation'. You would think that if he was innocent he would be keen to cooperate with the investigation to clear his name; but it was evident he was being protected by the British authorities. So I think it is reasonable to reach our own conclusions in this case.

I think that claims of RF members being 'badly advised' whenever they make bad decisions is a real cop out, as though it is anyone's fault but their own. In this case Andrew's then PR expert reported that he had advised Andrew not to do the interview and was overruled by him.

Can I just point out that Andrew is not using his title, but it technically is still his.

I'll bet as soon as KC is gone he will try to start using it again.

I don't think Beatrice and Eugenie will ever be working royals but I think the Wessex children might. Not the high profile stuff but the things their parents do now. Eg the lady who used to run the community shop by me was awarded and MBE and the Edward and Sophie attended, the shop is in a council estate in a deprived area, so not exactly glamorous.

What’s Harry going to do? Hit him like he hit Taylor Hawkins? Then what?

He’s run out of options. Even his charities are starting to look ropey. His Delaware-registered Foundation raises a lot of questions. He’s a busted flush.

No you're not. And he hasn't even lost his titles, he has just opted not to use them.

So basically nothing to see here?? I need to step away from this thread as it's doing nothing for my high blood pressure!

The 2025/6 SG is £132million. An increase of 54% because the Crown Estates have made more profit due to offshore windfarms.
This is why it should be voted on.

I'm not interested in Harry on this thread because this is - for once - about another Royal. i.e. Andrew and there is a plethora of threads about Harry and his wife.

In this case Andrew's then PR expert reported that he had advised Andrew not to do the interview and was overruled by him.

Yes, and his PR Adviser actually resigned over it because Andrew would not listen to him.

I don’t doubt that he’ll try whenever he senses he can get away with it. But if he does, I think William will shut it down immediately, if not go further. Unlike Charles and the late Queen, William doesn’t seem to shy away from uncomfortable situations, which is probably why they ended up in this mess to begin with.

People are already asking for clarity as to what he has "given up", as they begin to realise that this will make zero difference to his actual life. So I rather think I do understand it!

By tomorrow, more questions will be being asked in the Sunday papers.

Beatrice and Eugenie are grown women of 37 and 35 who are arms deep into Daddy’s financial dealings in the Middle East and Asia where their titles open doors and seal lips.

Deeply depressing that there are still Andrew apologists on the thread….

'membership of the order of the garter'

I don't know what that is. Is it like Victoria's Secret; Ann Summers?

Yes, absolutely. They are literally commuting to different countries in the Middle East... Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar

Apparently they are championing causes close to their heart. Daddy!

It's all murky. Why, for instance, was Beatrice front and centre of the opening of the first Abu Dhabi Bank in London.
They are both putting themselves forward as 'unofficial' ambassadors for the UK in the Middle East, and what a coincidence, Andrew managed to find the money needed for Royal Lodge at the same time.

I think its more like 'membership of the order of a six pack of socks from M&S' but older.

Exactly. They have been bewildered as to how money has ended up in their bank accounts and fluttered their eyelids while random people gave them diamond necklaces for decades now. They are both innocently turning up to all sorts of conferences in the ME that they have no qualification or experience with, and suddenly apparently entirely unrelated their parents have money to stay in their 30 room mansion, as well as having the money to buy a house for mummy that she then sold a few years later for a loss. They are clearly complicit in this, and will be another scandal to come that the Royals are doing nothing about (possibly because they are all at it) Andrews trade envoy papers are clearly being sealed for so long so that George/William have culpable deniability. They wouldnt be sealed to protect some government ministers who will probably be long gone. Its been done to protect the Monarchy.

Haha... love this!

Well, yes... but only if velvet, ermine, feathers and huge gold curtain tiebacks turn you on!

The increase is temporary while work on Buckingham Palace is completed.

The 2023 review recognised that this reduced percentage rate would still lead to a significant but temporary increased grant amount for two years from 2025-26. This will provide the remainder of the funding agreed in 2016 for reservicing work to address fire and flood risks at Buckingham Palace. Further detail on the 2023 review is included in annex B to this report.

The Government has also confirmed its intention to bring forward legislation to reduce the grant amount from 2027-28, once all agreed funding for reservicing has been provided.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-of-the-royal-trustees-on-the-sovereign-grant-review-2025-26/sovereign-grant-act-2011-report-of-the-royal-trustees-on-the-sovereign-grant-2025-26-accessible

The 'most noble' Order of the Garter was started in the 1300s by Edward III. I believe it started when a woman's garter slid off her leg at a court dance and the King handed it back to her saying (to all the sniggering courtiers) 'Honi soit qui mal y pense' (Shame on those who think ill of it).

So it is supposed to be a reward for exceptional nobility, or chivalry. Or something. It is currently held by a few dozen people, mostly UK and foreign royals in their 70s and 80s. Still at least it is one part of the Royal flummery that actually is old. Most of what we think of as 'traditional' was actually invented in the 19th/20th centuries to boost popularity which was flagging during Q Victoria's long seclusion.

So now....if Andrew happens to be present at any future RF event like a funeral or wedding, (is he barred from such things now or what?) - will the BBC and the likes refer to him as Prince Andrew, or just plain Andrew Windsor?

On the assumption that he is not exiled to Royal Lodge forever more, I wonder what he will be referred to as? He is and always will be Prince Andrew, no matter what limp wristed efforts are made by KC to keep him out of the limelight. Although every decision made by RF is for self protection and protecting the coffers, nothing more.

I’m confused by the Taylor Hawkins reference, what did I miss please?!

They wouldnt be sealed to protect some government ministers who will probably be long gone. Its been done to protect the Monarchy.

Yes. This makes me furious. He was employed by us on the taxpayers dime. Every trip was extended to cover his golf trips and I think it is sealed because of who he took with him and who he met when he was on these jaunts.

And then when he got sacked from that, he started the Pitch at Palace. Why in God's name did QE2 say yes to this? Again it was a scam because he creamed off a percentage of the money. And when that went tits up he tried to sell off his contact list for personal gain.

The increase is temporary while work on Buckingham Palace is completed.

I know. I am waiting for the 10% DECREASE in 2027.