Prince Andrew's humiliating blow amid Royal scandal

Prince Andrew has suffered another humiliating blow after reaching a settlement with sexual abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre.

The City of York voted on Wednesday to strip the royal of his Freedom of the City of York title, one of the highest honours.

Prince Andrew wears a black suit jacket and stripy tie, he has glasses on and is sitting in Westminster Abbey.
Prince Andrew has lost another title due to his sexual assault settlement. Photo: Getty

The Queen’s second son received the honour in 1987 in a grand ceremony, after he married Sarah Ferguson.

In a meeting that took just 40 minutes, City of York Council members voted to remove the disgraced royal’s status as an Honorary Freeman of York.

“The Honorary Freedom of York is the highest honour we, as a city, can bestow on those who represent the very best of York,” Darryl Smalley, a York councillor announced.

“We believe that it is right to remove all links that Prince Andrew still has with our great city.

“I was pleased to see councillors of all parties support this motion and make it clear that it is no longer appropriate for Prince Andrew to represent York and its residents."

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Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson kiss on their wedding day, on the royal balcony. They are surrounded by family, including the Queen.
Prince Andrew was given York's highest honour after he married Sarah Ferguson. Photo: Getty

The councillor went on to explain that the city doesn't want to condone abuse or have any ties with Andrew.

"The removal of this honorary title sends the right message that we as a city stand with victims of abuse," he stated.

"The next logical step is now for Prince Andrew to do the right thing and relinquish his Duke of York title.

"If he fails to do so, the Government and Buckingham Palace must step in to remove his title to finally end Prince Andrew's connection to York.”

This comes after Andrew stepped down from public life after being stripped of his military titles and royal patronages by the Queen in January.

Queen Elizabeth II walks with son Prince Andrew, the Queen is wearing a green hat and green jacket. Prince Andrew has a black suit jacket on and a stripy tie.
The Queen was criticised for walking arm-in-arm with Prince Andrew at the memorial for the Duke of Edinburgh. Photo: Getty

In February, Andrew agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to Virginia Giuffre which included a "substantial donation to Ms Giuffre's charity in support of victim's rights".

Giuffre was suing Andrew over allegations he sexually abused her more than two decades ago when she was 17, a minor under US law, after convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein trafficked her to England.

The settlement is not an admission of guilt and Andrew has always denied the allegations.

Despite the backlash, he has remained close to the Queen — disappointing the public and royal commentators.

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