Buckingham Palace has removed Prince Andrew's title, effectively ending his association with the royal family, following a year of allegations linking him to the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. The announcement, made on Thursday, marks a significant escalation in the fallout from the scandal that has plagued the Duke of York.

The decision comes after months of increasing pressure on the royal family to distance itself from Prince Andrew. Epstein, who died by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, had connections to numerous powerful figures, and Prince Andrew’s relationship with Epstein became a major public relations crisis for the monarchy.

Previously, Prince Andrew stepped down from his public duties in November 2019 following intense scrutiny over his friendship with Epstein. He denied any wrongdoing but acknowledged he had misjudged his association with the convicted criminal. An internal investigation was reportedly conducted by Buckingham Palace, but details of the findings have not been publicly released.

The stripping of the title represents a formal severing of ties and is a rare and significant action by the Palace. It underscores the seriousness with which the royal family is treating the allegations and the need to protect the institution's reputation. The Duke of York will no longer be referred to as 'His Royal Highness'.

The Epstein scandal has had far-reaching consequences, impacting numerous individuals and organizations. While Prince Andrew has consistently denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes, the association has proven damaging and ultimately led to this decisive action by Buckingham Palace.