What has changed in the royal family’s website?

WEB DESK: It seems that Buckingham Palace has quietly updated the royal family’s official website to reflect Prince Andrew’s decision to stop using his Duke of York title, a move seen as yet another public acknowledgment of his diminished royal standing.

All prominent references to the Duke of York title have been removed from Andrew’s main biography page, though some mentions remain embedded within the text, such as those referring to his 22 years of service in the Royal Navy. His page continues to feature the 2022 statement confirming his withdrawal from public duties and the loss of his military roles and royal patronages.

The update comes days after Andrew announced on October 17 that he would no longer use the title, saying he wished to avoid distracting from King Charles III’s work. Once one of the most visible members of the royal family, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s second son has faced years of scandal following his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019 after his widely criticised BBC interview, which deepened public outrage over his conduct. In 2022, the Queen stripped him of his titles after a US judge rejected his attempt to dismiss a sexual assault lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre. Andrew, who has denied any wrongdoing, reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre, who died earlier this year, for an undisclosed sum.

The website change, while subtle, underscores how far the once-prominent prince has fallen from royal favour.