Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III and son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, will no longer use his royal titles, Buckingham Palace announced Friday, as public attention once again intensifies over his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement issued by the palace, Andrew said the decision was reached “in discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family,” acknowledging that the ongoing controversy surrounding him had become a distraction from the monarchy’s work.

“The continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family,” Andrew said. “I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.”

He added: “I stand by my decision five years ago to step 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.”

Under the new arrangement, Andrew will cease using the title Duke of York, though he will formally retain it, as removing the title would require an act of Parliament. He will continue to be known as Prince Andrew, a title granted at birth by Queen Elizabeth II.

The palace said the change takes effect immediately, describing it as part of an effort to ensure that the royal family’s work remains “free from ongoing personal distractions.”

A royal source said that the decision was made because Andrew’s “personal issues continued to be an unwelcome distraction from the work of the wider royal family.”

Prince Andrew, 64, has faced years of scrutiny over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a U.S. jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The controversy forced Andrew to withdraw from royal duties in 2019, following a widely criticized BBC interview in which he defended his relationship with Epstein.

Although Andrew has denied all allegations of wrongdoing, his name has remained linked to Epstein’s network, and renewed attention in recent months has reignited public debate over his continued association with the royal institution.

The move marks another step in King Charles III’s ongoing efforts to modernize and streamline the monarchy following his mother’s death in 2022.

While Andrew will continue to live on royal estates and receive family support, his role within the royal household will remain suspended indefinitely.

The decision effectively formalizes Andrew’s retreat from public life — a quiet but significant closing chapter in one of the monarchy’s most damaging modern controversies.