Queen Strips Son of Military Honors, Royal Patronages and Could No Longer Use HRH Style in Public

The British throne is currently facing humiliation with the latest development on Prince Andrew's lawsuit case in the U.S court following the allegation of Virginia Giuffre that she was sexually abused by the prince in 2000 when she was still 17.

Following the news that a Manhattan judge rolled out a decision that Giuffre can file a civil case against the Duke of York, Buckingham Palace released an official statement that the prince's military affiliations and royal patronages reverted back to the Queen. 

The statement further emphasized that the prince will face the lawsuit as a private citizen and not a member of the royal family. which further means that he will be prohibited from using the HRH style while the lawsuit case is being heard.

Prince Andrew, touted to be the Queen's favorite son, stepped back from public life in November 2019 in the wake of Jeffrey Epstein scandal, an American financier and sex offender. Epstein committed suicide in prison while awaiting trial in August 2019. In 2021, Virginia Giuffre went to court to file a lawsuit case against the Duke of York.

All these humiliating controversies happened in a time the Queen is preparing for her Platinum Jubilee next month, February 2022.

Military Life

Among the Queen's children, it is only Prince Andrew who showed so much interest in the military services. He joined the royal navy in 1978 when he was 18 years old, following the footstep of his father, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. 

Prince Andrew as a Royal Navy officer

He enrolled at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and appointed midshipman. He also trained to become a naval helicopter pilot. 

In 1979, he completed a Royal Marines All Commando Course for which he received his Green Beret. After completing his naval training, he started his flying training at the Royal Airforce. 

Prince Andrew appointed as Vice Admiral in 2015

After being awarded his wings, the prince took advanced training on the Sea King helicopter and conducted operational flying training until 1982. He joined carrier-based squadron, 820 Naval Air Squadron, serving aboard the aircraft carrier, HMS Invincible.

Prince Andrew with his parents, The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh

Her served as a war helicopter pilot during the Falkland Wars in 1982, and the only British prince in modern times after Prince Philip (and followed by Prince Harry) who saw action under enemy's fire.

He rose to a rank of a Lieutenant-Commander and Captain in the Royal Navy before he left the job in 2001, to concentrate in raising his two daughters. In 2015, he was appointed Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy. 

The Queen with her two older sons, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York

Following the retirement of his father, Prince Philip, from public duties in 2017, he was appointed Colonel of the Grenadier Guards (the role previously held by Prince Philip) and performed his last duty with his regiments in June 2019 Trooping the Colors to officially celebrate the Queen's birthday.

Prince Andrew with ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, and daughters. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie in front of Buckingham Palace during the rehearsal of his regiments, Grenadier Guards, in 2019

He was supposed to be appointed Admiral of the Royal Navy in February 2020 during his 60th birthday but due to the controversy he got involved, it was postponed and announced he would just assume it when he gets back to performing royal duties.

Stripping of the titles and patronages

An official statement from Buckingham Palace said the prince will be stripped of his military titles and royal patronages with the approval of the Queen. This is to spare the British monarchy from being dragged into the controversy once the civil case starts rolling in the United States.

The Duke of York wearing his Grenadier uniform as Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment

Although Prince Andrew retains his HRH style, he is prohibited from using it publicly. Currently, he is 9th in the line of succession to the British throne and will remain as such.

However, all military affiliations he held, which are closest to his heart as a military officer, will be removed from him. His military appointments cover the armed forces of the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand.

British princes in military uniform during the funeral service of the Queen Mother in 2002

Front from left: Prince Andrew, Prince Charles and Prince Philip. At the back in military uniform is Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent

The following military appointments will be stripped from the Duke of York effective January 2022 and will be distributed to other working royal members. This further means that the prince cannot wear military uniform anymore in public functions.

The United Kingdom:

• Colonel of the Grenadier Guards
• Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Irish Regiment
• Colonel-in-Chief of the Small Arms School Corps
• Colonel-in-Chief of the Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th, 33rd/76th foot)
• Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeth's Own)
• Royal Colonel of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland
• Honorary Air Commodore Royal Air Force Lossiemouth
• Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm
• Admiral of the Sea Cadet Corps

Canada:

• Colonel-in-Chief of the Queen's York Rangers
• Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada
• Colonel-in-Chief of the Princess Louise Fusiliers
• Colonel-in-Chief of the Canadian Airborne Regiment

New Zealand:

• Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment