header-logo header-logo

A prince no more, but a duke still

07 November 2025 / Professor Graham Zellick CBE KC
Issue: 8138 / Categories: Features , Constitutional law
printer mail-detail
235020
Professor Graham Zellick KC on why Andrew Mountbatten Windsor remains a duke

Following Buckingham Palace’s statement last month, the public will doubtless have concluded that the former Prince Andrew would lose his title of Prince and his peerage as a duke, as well as his other honours and dignities (I refer to him hereafter as ‘Andrew’, which sounds less jarring than Mr Mountbatten Windsor).

The opening words of the statement were: ‘His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew.’ I assume, but do not know, that the king has exercised his undoubted prerogative powers to withdraw the honorific of ‘His Royal Highness’ and the title of Prince, and cancel his two knighthoods (of the Garter and the Royal Victorian Order). Anyone reading the statement would inevitably conclude that his dukedom was also being formally removed, especially as the earlier statement had already indicated that he had decided no longer to use the title.

We know

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Freeths—Suzanne Porter

Freeths—Suzanne Porter

Firm launches trusts, estates and tax practice in the north with senior hire

Fieldfisher—Guy Forster

Fieldfisher—Guy Forster

Personal injury and medical negligence team strengthened by partner hire

mfg Solicitors—Richard Port

mfg Solicitors—Richard Port

Firm appoints partner and head of family in Birmingham office

NEWS
AlphaBiolabs has donated £500 to The Christie Charity through its Giving Back initiative, helping to support cancer care, treatment and research across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and further afield
CILEX has called for a review of conveyancing fees and stronger regulation of the high-volume residential property sector, in its response to government proposals for homebuying reforms
Pension provision should be considered during all divorce proceedings in order to repair gender inequality, the Pension Policy Institute (PPI) charity and workplace pensions provider now:pensions have said
‘Over-regulating’ the cryptoassets sector could stifle growth when the government brings regulations into force in 2027, a digital assets lawyer has warned
Solicitors received a new year’s boost this month with the announcement of an uplift to the guideline hourly rates
back-to-top-scroll