The title of Duke of York, traditionally reserved for the monarch’s second son, may never be used again after Prince Andrew’s recent fall from grace, according to a leading royal expert.
Last week, King Charles’s brother shocked the public by announcing that he was relinquishing all his royal titles and honours following renewed scrutiny over his alleged ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Now, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has suggested that the title, once a mark of royal honour, has become “toxic” due to its association with the Duke.
“Certain titles are identified with their holders, maybe unfairly,” Fitzwilliams told GB News. “We are in an age where instant information is available — and Duke of York rings alarm bells worldwide.”
The Dukedom of York has been a royal tradition since 1497, typically granted to the sovereign’s second son. Queen Elizabeth II’s father, Prince George VI, held the title before becoming king in 1936, while Prince Andrew was bestowed the honour in 1986 following his marriage to Sarah Ferguson.
However, Fitzwilliams noted that the title’s future is now uncertain due to the controversy surrounding its current holder.
“There probably will never be another Duke of York,” he said, adding, “The media will still be using that Newsnight interview in 50 years.”
He further cautioned that it may be “too soon” for Prince Louis, Prince William’s second son, to inherit the title, as its reputation remains tarnished.
Fitzwilliams’ remarks come amid new reports that Prince Andrew has only been paying his water bills “from time to time” at his Royal Lodge residence in Windsor, where he continues to live despite growing public pressure to vacate the property.
The Royal Lodge controversy and the loss of his titles mark yet another chapter in Andrew’s ongoing struggles to rehabilitate his image — a challenge that experts suggest may last for decades.
