Prince Andrew made 'profound error' meeting Epstein says Rellie

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

But calls have also been made for Andrew to lose his York dukedom, which was given to him by his mother on his wedding day in 1986. A constitutional expert claimed in this event his peerage could be passed on the Duke of Sussex, who has stepped back as a senior royal.

Hereditary peerages can only be passed down between men due to the law of male primogeniture that still exists in the UK.

This means that while Prince Andrew, 61, has two daughters, neither Princess Beatrice nor Princess Eugenie will inherit their father’s dukedom on his death.

The Dukedom of York title is traditionally held by the sovereign’s second son which will be Prince Harry, once his father Prince Charles ascends the throne.

Constitutional expert Iain MacMarthanne told Express.co.uk: “Without a son, and by the terms of the letters patent under which the dukedom of York was again created in 1986, the death of the present duke will see the title merge with the crown.

“Historically it is a title that has been granted to the second son of the sovereign.“Arguably, with Charles’ accession, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex becomes the sovereign’s second son and could under the custom become the next Duke of York in addition to being duke of Sussex.

“The fashion for creating multiple dukedoms, such as during the reign of Victoria has, however, died out.

“Additionally, the custom of new creations has invariably become linked with marriage and as that has already occurred, together with his withdrawal from front line royal duties, his creation as Duke of York seems unlikely, should the title be available.”

Andrew was last week stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages by the Queen as the monarchy distanced itself from the duke ahead of potentially damaging developments in his lawsuit.

His dramatic fall in the standing of the royal family came after Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit against him took a major step forward last week, when a judge threw out a motion by the duke’s lawyers to dismiss the sexual assault case and ruled it can go to trial.

The fallout from Andrew’s civil sex case continued on Friday as he faced calls to pay for his own security and lose his dukedom.

The duke denies all the allegations.

He retains his rank as vice-admiral in the Royal Navy and remains a counsellor of state – a position which means they have the authority to carry out certain duties of the monarch in her absence.

Ms Giuffre is suing the duke in the US for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager.

She claims she was trafficked by the duke’s friend, convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, to have sex with Andrew when she was 17 and a minor under US law.

Ms Giuffre claims Andrew had sex with her against her will at Maxwell’s London home and at Epstein’s mansion on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

The duke is also alleged to have abused Ms Giuffre on another occasion during a visit to Epstein’s private island, Little St James, and on a separate occasion at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion.

Source: Read Full Article