Prince Andrew latest: Royal gives up all titles including Duke of York after discussion with King Charles

The Duke of York also reportedly told his paedophile friend “we’ll play some more soon” in the email dated 28 February 2011 – three months after the date he told the BBC he had severed contact with the disgraced financier.

Tara Cobham reports:

The royal had faced fresh scandals in recent days, including meeting a senior Beijing official at the heart of the China spy scandal at least three times, according to reports.

Bryony Gooch reports:

Widely purported to have been the late Queen’s “favourite” child, Prince Andrew has suffered a sharp fall from grace over the last decade.

Plagued by a string of controversies, the latest blow has seen new messages between the duke and Jeffrey Epstein come to light – sent months after Andrew claimed to have cut the disgraced financier off.

Emails between Andrew and Epstein handed to a court in London reportedly show they were still exchanging messages until at least late February 2011, when the duke wrote: “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon.”

Athena Stavrou reports:

Andrew will retain the dukedom, which can only be removed by an Act of Parliament, but not use it.

He will also give up his knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and his Garter role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

Andrew has stopped using his remaining titles and honours, including the Duke of York, but he will remain a prince.

As the son of the late Queen Elizabeth he is still 8th in line to the throne.

The King’s brother will retain the dukedom, which can only be removed by an Act of Parliament but he will not use the title.

He will also give up his knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and his Garter role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

The honours will both remain in existence but will not be used.

Prince Andrew has been forced to finally relinquish all his remaining titles – including the Duke of York – following another week of damaging scandal under pressure from his older brother, King Charles.

The prince is handing back all the remaining honours he clung onto despite being stripped of his HRH title and public duties by the late queen.

Alastair Jamieson and Bryony Gooch report:

Robert Hardman, who wrote a biography about King Charles, has said that Prince Andrew giving up his titles was not really his choice and due to the various scandals he was engulfed in.

He told BBC News: “Things are simply not going away.

“And I think the palace has decided, and Prince Andrew has agreed, that there really has to be a further separation.

“He wants to look as if he’s proactive and try and regain some dignity out of this.”

Mr Hardman added that although Andrew won’t use the titles, he hasn’t been stripped of them.

Prince Andrew’s decision to relinquish the use of his titles was made in conjunction with King Charles, who is said to be “glad” about the announcement.

“This decision basically was taken in conjunction with the King – yes, it was the prince’s decision but with very close consultation with the King involved, and we understand that the King is glad of this outcome,” Sky News’ Royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills said on Friday.

Prince Andrew has been under pressure for a long time over his association with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and his sex trafficker girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.

Here is a timeline how that friendship led to the prince’s disgrace and downfall.