Sarah Ferguson, Prince Andrew’s ex-wife, will keep her royal title.
Despite her 1996 divorce from Andrew and the restoration of his military titles and royal patronages to the Queen, Sarah has continued to use the title Sarah, Duchess of York. There are no intentions for Sarah to quit being referred to as a duchess.
According to The Daily Mail’s Eden Confidential blog, an insider said: “Since the divorce, that has been her title, and it will continue to be so.
“Andrew is still Duke of York, so there’s no problem.”
The 61-year-old prince will no longer use the title “His Royal Highness” in an official capacity, and his responsibilities will be delegated to other members of the royal family.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “The Duke of York’s military associations and Royal patronages have been returned to the Queen with the Queen’s assent and agreement.
“The Duke of York will continue to refuse to perform any governmental obligations and is defending himself as a private person in this matter.”
This follows the announcement that Prince Andrew would face a civil case in the United States over allegations that he sexually abused a woman when she was 17 years old.
Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit has been allowed to proceed by a federal judge in New York City.
Giuffre has accused Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender who died by suicide in August 2019, and his one-time lover Ghislaine Maxwell of arranging and forcing her to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was 17 in 2001.
Giuffre believes she was lent out to influential individuals as a result of the pair’s alleged mistreatment.
Maxwell was found guilty by a jury in a US federal court in December on five sex trafficking-related offenses, each of which carries a potential prison sentence of up to 65 years.
Andrew has continually rejected Giuffre’s allegations, and his legal team recently argued that her lawsuit should be dismissed, citing a 2009 agreement with Epstein for a $500,000 payment.
However, a New York judge just concluded that the case could proceed.
