
Two-thirds of Britons want Andrew stripped of titles
Some 67 per cent of the public would back the removal of Andrew's York dukedom, according to YouGov. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AAP
Two thirds of Britons believe the Duke of York should be stripped of his remaining royal titles, according to a new poll.
Research by YouGov found that 67 per cent of the public would back the removal of Andrew's York dukedom, as well as his princely title.
An unflattering biography of the disgraced duke by Andrew Lownie in August delved into the private life of the late Queen's son, depicting him as sex-obsessed, a "useful idiot" and easy prey for Jeffrey Epstein.
Some 13 per cent opposed the removal of his titles and 21 per cent were unsure, the survey suggested.
Three years ago, 62 per cent believed Andrew should have his York title removed, with the current 67 per cent in-favour figure seeing a jump of five percentage points.
Another YouGov survey found that just five per cent have a positive view of the King's brother, with Andrew languishing at the bottom of the royal favourability tables, beneath the Duchess of Sussex who has a 20 per cent positive rating and the Duke of Sussex at 28 per cent.
Legislation would be required for Parliament to prevent Andrew continuing as the Duke of York, while his birthright to be a prince, as the son of a monarch, could be changed if a Letters Patent were issued by the King.
The duke stopped using his style of his royal highness following his disastrous Newsnight interview, but it could be removed entirely by a Letters Patent.
Andrew stepped away from his public role in 2019 amid the furore over his friendship with convicted billionaire paedophile Epstein.
He later paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault case with Virginia Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein as a teenager and who Andrew claimed never to have met.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

9 News
28 minutes ago
- 9 News
Grandfather and granddaughter among those killed in US Target shooting
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here US police have identified the victims in a shooting that killed three people, including a child, in a Target parking lot. The victims include Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca as well as Adam Chow and Chow's granddaughter. "Adam Chow and his 4-year-old granddaughter were pronounced deceased on scene," a Tuesday statement says. Martinez Machuca was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital. Chow's wife sustained minor injuries, the release said. Police block the entrance to a Target after a shooting in Austin, Texas, on August 11. (AP) Authorities said the suspected gunman, Ethan Nieneker, "randomly attacked" Martinez Machuca — a Target employee — in the parking lot on Monday local time. Nieneker allegedly shot him as he was collecting shopping carts, the release said. The shooting is one in a spate of deadly gun violence in the US, and follows killings in recent weeks at places normally considered safe – a Montana bar, the offices of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and an office building in New York City. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said Tuesday the victims were picked at random and Nieneker had "serious issues". "There were some serious failures here … when you look at potentially some mental illness there," Davis said. The firearm used in Monday's fatal shooting was "acquired through family," Austin police Sergeant Nathan Sexton said Tuesday. Nieneker, 32, is being held at the Travis County Jail, charged with capital murder by terror threat, capital murder of a person under 10 years old and felony first-degree murder, according to online jail records . A police mugshot of suspect Mugshot of Ethan Nieneker. (Austin Police Department) He also has prior criminal offences, including assault causing bodily injury to a family member, driving while intoxicated and possession of marijuana, Davis said on Tuesday. It is unclear if Nieneker has made a court appearance or obtained an attorney. A motive has not been determined and it's not clear what led to Monday's gunfire. The shooting erupted during a busy time of year for retailers, with back-to-school shopping underway. Police were called at 2.15pm and arrived at the Target parking lot where they found three people shot, Davis said. After shooting Martinez Machuca, Nieneker ran to a black Jeep Cherokee. He began firing as the Jeep attempted to evade the gunfire, Tuesday's police statement said. He then ran up to Chow's car, where he shot him and then fired into the backseat, striking the granddaughter, police said. Nieneker was eventually captured about 32km away in South Austin after someone called police, Davis said. He was taken into custody after being tased. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson called the shooting "a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence". "This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families," he said in a post on X . Target said in a statement it is "devastated by the violence" at the Austin store and is working with law enforcement on the investigation. Lonnie Lee, 22, had visited the Target with her sister and was shocked to see the parking lot was cordoned off and filled with police, she told The Associated Press . "We got really, really lucky," Lee said. "And some people didn't." At a Jiffy Lube shop that shares its parking lot with the Target, employees locked the doors as soon as they became aware of the shooting. Paul Smith, an employee at the oil-change store, saw people running from their cars in the parking lot in a panic, he told the AP. "I had just gotten back from the Target like a minute before," Smith said. CONTACT US

9 News
2 hours ago
- 9 News
Trump tells Goldman Sachs CEO to hire a new economist after bank's tariff findings
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Days after Goldman Sachs' top economists published research claiming price increases stemming from higher tariffs are poised to soon be borne mostly by consumers, US President Donald Trump is urging the bank's CEO, David Solomon, to get a new economist. "Tariffs have not caused Inflation, or any other problems for America, other than massive amounts of CASH pouring into our Treasury's coffers," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Tuesday. "David Solomon and Goldman Sachs refuse to give credit where credit is due." Donald Trump is urging the the Goldman Sachs CEO to get a new economist. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) "I think that David should go out and get himself a new Economist or, maybe, he ought to just focus on being a DJ, and not bother running a major Financial Institution," Trump added. Solomon previously performed regularly at high-profile events. However, facing pressure from the bank's board, he gave up his DJing side gig two years ago. A report Goldman Sachs economists published over the weekend estimated Americans "absorbed 22 per cent of tariff costs through June," but that this share will rise to 67 per cent by October if tariffs "follow the same pattern as the earliest ones". Trump did not specifically reference that report in his post, however. Goldman Sachs declined to comment on the president's remarks. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon is interviewed on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York. (AP) The bank's chief economist, Jan Hatzius, is one of the most followed economists both in Washington, where he's met with former President Joe Biden and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and on Wall Street. Hatzius, an author of the report predicting the share of tariff costs consumers will cover, was an outlier in most circles of economists in 2023 for correctly predicting the US economy wouldn't enter a recession. On tariffs, Hatzius' team's forecasts share similarities with that of other leading financial institutions that are warning that consumers will experience tariff-related sticker shock. However, that hasn't been the case so far despite a slew of higher tariffs Trump has enacted over the past few months. New inflation data published Tuesday showed consumer prices rose 0.2 per cent in July, keeping the annual inflation rate at 2.7 per cent, according to the latest Consumer Price Index. World US POLITICS USA Donald Trump CONTACT US

Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Nobody is above the law': Royal author Andrew Lownie reveals explosive new Prince Andrew claims
Andrew Lownie has revealed the genesis of Prince Andrew's disastrous relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and why Buckingham Palace needs to 'cut loose' the Duke and Duchess of York. The veteran royal biographer is the author of the new book 'Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York', a warts-and-all account of the Yorks' marriage and three decade partnership. The bombshell book includes embarrassing revelations about the Duke of York's sex life, as well as unprecedented new information about his business dealings while working as a British trade envoy. Meanwhile, the Duke of York's ex-wife and current housemate Fergie is painted as not only financially reckless, but so dangerous to the monarchy that the royal family keep her in the fold to protect themselves. In an exclusive interview with the Sky News Australia digital series Power Hour, Mr Lownie opened up about the bizarre symbiotic relationship between Epstein and the Duke of York. Their friendship, which ended in Prince Andrew's public downfall, was equally transactional for both parties. 'Andrew was a useful piece of respectability for Epstein,' he told host Gabriella Power. 'Epstein provided useful contacts, someone who paid off debts for the couple and supplied women to Andrew.' Andrew's ability to provide 'respectability' and connections for shadowy businessmen was a tool the Duke of York has exploited throughout his public life. From 2001 until July 2011, Andrew worked as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. The role saw the bombastic Duke serve as roving ambassador for British trade around the globe, and Lownie alleges it was in this role that Andrew benefitted financially on the side. According to Mr Lownie, Buckingham Palace were well-aware of Andrew's links to possibly dodgy business figures but ignored the Duke's reckless and brazen behaviour. 'MPs twenty years ago were asking our national crime agency to investigate him, nothing was done,' he said. 'I think (the book) is very damaging to Andrew and indeed to the monarchy who was very much aware what was going on and colluded with him.' Ironically, diplomats also complained that instead of helping British trade, Andrew was a liability on important trade trips. Mr Lownie called on King Charles to cut off his rogue brother once and for all to restore public trust in the monarchy's integrity. 'There's not sufficient transparency about royal finances, and royal activity full stop,' he said. 'We're prepared to support our royal family but not if they're on the take themselves. 'I think they need to look carefully and cut him loose. 'Nobody is above the law, including members of the royal family.' 'Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York' will be published by HarperCollins on 14 August 2025.