MPs move to lodge parliamentary motion to strip Prince Andrew of dukedom

Members of Parliament are initiating a parliamentary motion to strip Prince Andrew of his dukedom. This move comes amid heightened pressure on the government to address the Duke of York's continued residency at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, where it has been revealed he has not paid rent for over two decades. The lease, acquired for £1 million with an additional £7.5 million for refurbishments, stipulated a peppercorn rent since 2003 and grants him the right to live there until 2078. The renewed scrutiny of Prince Andrew is intensified by fresh allegations from Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein survivor, who claims in her memoir that she had sexual encounters with him on three occasions and that he harassed her online. Giuffre's ghostwriter described the potential removal of his titles as a "victory" and a symbolic act to hold accountable those involved in her trafficking. While MPs cannot directly criticize royals in parliamentary debates, the SNP has lodged an early-day motion to remove his Duke of York title. Such motions, though typically having little formal weight, offer a rare avenue for MPs to raise a royal's conduct. The SNP leader, Stephen Flynn, stated their intention to exert pressure on the UK Labour government to enact legislation for title removal, emphasizing that it requires an act of parliament. There are limited parliamentary mechanisms for stripping royal titles, generally requiring a government-led act of parliament, which is unlikely unless requested by the Royal Palace. Anothe... download the app to read more