Following Prince Andrew's decision to give up his royal titles amid multiple scandals, his future in the line of succession to the British throne is unclear.
King Charles' younger brother made the shocking revelation on Friday, Oct. 17, announcing that he will no longer use his Duke of York title and will give up his membership in the Order of the Garter. He will remain a prince, as is his birthright as a son of the late Queen Elizabeth. He currently remains eighth in line to the throne.
In a statement, Andrew, 65, said, "In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life."
"With His Majesty's agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me."
Buckingham Palace released a statement in response, saying, "The Prince's decision was taken in close consultation with The King. His Majesty is glad of this outcome."
His ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, will continue to use Sarah Ferguson professionally, as she has for many years. PEOPLE understands that the former couple's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, will not be affected by the change.
The prince had already lost the use of "His Royal Highness" as well as his position as a Counsellor of State. In January 2022, his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, stripped Andrew of his military titles and patronages amid a sexual assault lawsuit against him by Virginia Giuffre, an alleged victim of Jeffrey Epstein. The Duke of York denied any wrongdoing, and in February 2022, settled with Giuffre out of court for an undisclosed sum.
Upon taking the throne, Prince Charles appointed Princess Beatrice in her father's former role as Counsellor of State. The roles, created under the 1937 Regency Act, are given to the monarch's spouse and the next four adults in the line of succession over the age of 21. The position allows the counsellors to carry out business on behalf of the monarch.
Princess Beatrice joined Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Anne, and Prince Edward as one of the King's Counsellors. Andrew and Prince Harry were excluded as they were no longer working royals.
When Andrew was born on Feb. 19, 1960, he was second in line to the crown, behind only his older brother. Though Anne was older than him, male-preference primogeniture was still in place until the Succession to the Crown Act 2013.
That act declared that birth order determines the order of succession, regardless of sex. However, it only applied to royals born after Oct. 28, 2011, and was not retroactive, keeping in line behind her younger brothers.
Today, Prince Andrew is eighth in line to the throne, the first in the order of succession who is not directly descended from the King.
He was granted the title of Duke of York -- traditionally given to the monarch's second son -- on his wedding day to Ferguson, July 23, 1986, the day of his wedding. He was also bestowed the Earldom of Inverness in Scotland and the Barony of Killyleagh in Northern Ireland.
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While questions remain about his royal status and his future within the royal family -- as he's already been barred from attending their Christmas festivities -- at least one thing will remain constant for Andrew moving forward: his home.
The prince has lived at Royal Lodge, located in the Windsor Great Park, since 2004, and has continued to live there with Ferguson even following their divorce. In the fall of 2024, he raised money in order to stay in the residence after the King cut off his personal allowance.
PEOPLE understands that Andrew's private tenancy agreement with The Crown Estate will be unaffected by his decision to give up his titles, and he will continue to live at Royal Lodge on the grounds of Windsor Castle.