Big majority backs removal of Duke of York’s titles - new poll

Two thirds of people believe the Duke of York should be stripped of his remaining royal titles, according to a new poll.

Research by YouGov found that 67% of the public would back the removal of Andrew’s York dukedom, as well as his princely title.

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'Useful idiot'

An unflattering biography of the disgraced duke by Andrew Lownie this month delved into the private life of the late Queen’s son, depicting him as sex obsessed, a “useful idiot” and easy prey for Jeffrey Epstein.

Some 13% opposed the removal of his titles and 21% were unsure, the survey showed.

Three years ago, 62% believed Andrew should have his York title removed, with the current 67% in-favour figure seeing a jump of five percentage points.

Another YouGov survey found that just 5% have a positive view of the King’s brother, with Andrew languishing at the bottom of the royal favourability tables, beneath the Duchess of Sussex who has a 20% positive rating and the Duke of Sussex at 28%.

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Legislation

Legislation would be required for Parliament to prevent Andrew continuing as the Duke of York, while his birthright to be a prince, as the son of a monarch, could be changed if a Letters Patent were issued by the King.

The duke stopped using his style of His Royal Highness following his disastrous Newsnight interview, but it could be removed entirely by a Letters Patent.

Andrew stepped away from his public role in 2019 amid the furore over his friendship with convicted billionaire paedophile Epstein.

He later paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein as a teenager and who Andrew claimed never to have met.