The decision comes in the wake of a decision by a US judge to allow a civil sexual abuse case involving the Duke of York to move to trial. Andrew denies all the allegations.
In a statement, the palace said: "With the Queen's approval and agreement, the Duke of York's military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen. The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen."
Andrew will also stop using the 'His Royal Highness', or 'HRH', title in any official capacity, it is understood. The duke's current roles will be handed to other members of the royal family. Details of this have yet to be announced.
Andrew faces a civil sexual assault trial in the US after a judge ruled on Wednesday the case could go ahead. Virginia Giuffre is suing the duke in the US for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager.
She claims she was trafficked by convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with Andrew when she was aged 17 and a minor under US law. Andrew denies the allegations.
Earlier on Thursday, more than 150 veterans from the Royal Navy, RAF and Army signed an open letter calling on the Queen to strip Andrew of his honorary military roles.
The group of former servicemen and women said they felt "upset and angry" that he remained a member of the armed forces and continued to hold military titles, positions and ranks, including that of Vice Admiral of the Royal Navy.
"Were this any other senior military officer it is inconceivable that he would still be in post," they said.
Reader Comments
RC
While I've never been to a hooker, I can damn sure see why he MIGHT have, but I ain't going to try to judge him based on shit from past the reasonable SOL, which has been judicially reinterpreted to mean that x years - really means 'for life' because anyone says so. The only proper exception to SOL's is murder and it's been that way since the common law yielded those greatest of all government documents the USC & DOI which properly apply to all of humanity, even the Clantons, et al. The fact is he's not, and can't be properly convicted nor found civilly culpable in any sense of a reasonably "speedy" trial, as expressly provided as it's a violation of reasonable SOL's which harms us all.
Remember that when some bimbo from 30 years ago decides to sue YOU for how you allegedly 'raped' her when you paid for, hell, hell, simply HAD sex back then.
R.C.
Hang tough.
RC
Andrew is kryptonite to the longevity of the Monarchy.
Pravdaseeker