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Topics: Royal Family, UK News, Virginia Giuffre
Rhianna Benson
Topics: Royal Family, UK News, Virginia Giuffre
Another member of the British Royal Family is set to inherit the title of the Duke of York in the coming years.
The prestigious epithet previously belonged to Prince Andrew - the younger brother of King Charles III, and third-eldest child of the Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip - but were stripped five years ago.
Despite a successful military career as a helicopter pilot and warship captain in the Royal Navy, and a reputation as the late Queen's favourite child, recently years have seen the 65-year-old disgraced by accusations of sexual abuse.
A former acquaintance to both convicted sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, the father-of-two was accused of sexually assaulting Miss Virginia Giuffre when she was a minor - allegations which Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied.
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The pair were famously photographed in Epstein's presence during a party, when Giuffre was just a teenager. Prince Andrew was later interviewed over his alleged relationship with Giuffre by NewsNight presenter Emily Maitlis, with the catastrophic scandal going on to inspire a number of star-studded television adaptations.
He later paid £12 million to Giuffre in an out-of-court settlement, with a statement saying he'd planned to 'demonstrate his regret for his association' to Epstein by supporting 'fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims' (via The Guardian).
Prince Andrew - who shares daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson - was subsequently stripped of his royal and military titles.
Sky News reported at the time that the Prince's office had responded to the accusations by claiming he'd previously cut ties with the individual in question, and that they never discussed anything of a 'sensitive nature'.
He has since remained somewhat on the sidelines of the Royal Family, with even his brother Charles reportedly forcing him out of his lodge home last year, according to the Express.
The same publication also reported recently that other member of the monarchy is expected to take over Andrew's former title in the coming years.
According to tradition, the young Prince Louis - the six-year-old son of Prince Louis and Kate Middleton - would be next in line to Andrew's former title.
Though the news outlet allege that Royal commentators wonder whether it is a title to be abandoned given its association with Prince Andrew.
Under royal restrictions, however, Louis - the youngest of the Wales' three children - will only be entitled to inherit the epithet once William ascends to the throne, and once he marries.
It'll also only be transferred once Andrew passes away, which is why the title didn't pass to Prince Harry.