Prince Andrew looks set to face further scrutiny as a law which would allow King Charles to formally strip his brother of his dukedom is being introduced in the House of Commons today.
Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central, has set out legislation which would give the King the power to remove the titles from the disgraced royal.
The proposed new law would grant King Charles the power to remove titles on his own initiative, following a recommendation of a joint committee of Parliament, or at the request of the person who holds the title.
Prince Andrew announced last week he would stop using his Duke of York title, however, an Act of Parliament would be required to formally remove the dukedom.
Prince Andrew looks set to face further scrutiny as a law which would allow King Charles to formally strip his brother of his dukedom is being introduced in the House of Commons today.
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Ms Maskell said regarding the Bill: “It is time for Parliament to act so that it can, or the monarch can, remove titles.
“The Duke of York title may no longer be being used by its holder, but it has not been removed.
“My short Bill, The Removal of Titles Bill, will fix this; I hope it can now be supported by Parliament.”
The Bill’s chance of becoming law without Government support is remote.
Prince Andrew announced last week he would stop using his Duke of York title, however, an Act of Parliament would be required to formally remove the dukedom.
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Ms Maskell had the Labour whip suspended in July.
The titles and honours Andrew will no longer use include – Duke of York, the Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh, his knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and his Garter role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
Legislation has been used before to strip titles, but as it refers specifically to the First World War, its provisions are unlikely to be relevant today.
The Titles Deprivation Act 1917 was used two years later to strip the titles from Leopold Charles, Duke of Albany, Earl of Clarence and Baron Arklow; Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, Earl of Armagh; Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick, Prince of Great Britain and Ireland; and Henry, Viscount Taaffe of Corren and Baron of Ballymote.
Rachel Maskell had the Labour whip suspended in July.
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The King’s younger brother’s decision to give up his titles came amid intense public scrutiny concerning his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
However, he will remain a prince as he is the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Prince Andrew said in a statement released by Buckingham Palace on Friday: “In discussion with The King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.
“I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.
“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me.
“As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.”
