There are now renewed calls from Westminster to Windsor for all royal finances to be placed on a more transparent footing following further revelations about Prince Andrew, ITV News’ Political Correspondent Carl Dinnen and Royal Editor Chris Ship report.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appeared to back a committee inquiry by MPs, with the power to summon Prince Andrew to parliament for questioning.
Starmer was asked by Lib Dem Leader Sir Ed Davey during PMQs if he would support such a move in relation to the revelations earlier this week that the prince had not been paying rent to live at the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
Davey stressed this would mean “all those involved can be called for evidence, including the current occupant [Prince Andrew].”
Responding, Starmer said: “It’s important in relation to all crown properties that there is proper scrutiny and I certainly support that.”
Davey’s question comes as the Prince faces renewed pressure over his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Prince Andrew said earlier this month he would stop using his titles, and on Wednesday, York Central MP Rachel Maskell introduced a law to parliament that, if passed, could officially remove them.
Starmer said he would support a committee inquiry with the power to summon Prince Andrew to parliament.
Maskell’s draft legislation would grant the King the power to remove the titles conferred on his brother and others, something he currently lacks the legal power to do.
The prince announced last week he would stop using his Duke of York title to avoid distracting from the work of the royal family, but an Act of Parliament would be required to formally remove the dukedom.
The proposed new law would give the monarch the power to remove titles on his own initiative, following a recommendation of a joint committee of parliament, or at the request of the person who holds the title.
Maskell said: “It is time for parliament to act so that it can, or the monarch can, remove titles.
“The Duke of York title may no longer be being used by its holder, but it has not been removed.
“My short Bill, The Removal of Titles Bill, will fix this; I hope it can now be supported by parliament.”
The Bill stands little chance of becoming law without government support and ministers have resisted calls to act, insisting such decisions are for the King.
Maskell had the Labour whip suspended in July after being a key figure in the revolt over welfare reforms.
The titles and honours Andrew will no longer use include his wedding day titles – Duke of York, the Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh, his knighthood as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and his Garter role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
Legislation has been used before to strip titles, notably descendants of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who were on the German side in the First World War.
The Titles Deprivation Act 1917 was used two years later to strip the titles from Leopold Charles, Duke of Albany, Earl of Clarence and Baron Arklow; Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, Earl of Armagh; Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick, Prince of Great Britain and Ireland; and Henry, Viscount Taaffe of Corren and Baron of Ballymote.
The law remains in force, but as it refers specifically to the First World War, its provisions are unlikely to be relevant today.
The Scottish National Party had also put forward a motion to pressure the government to strip Andrew of the title, which would require an Act of Parliament.
Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s Westminster leader, said that “power and privilege” have protected those in the Epstein scandal for far too long and that the legislation to remove the title must be brought forward.
Flynn submitted an early day motion (EDM), which allows MPs to express an opinion, publicise a cause or support a position. It is rare for them to be debated.
The Government has so far indicated it would not introduce any legislation to strip Andrew of his titles unless the King wanted to.
On Monday, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the question of legislation was “a matter for the palace in the first instance” and the ministers “support the judgment of the King” regarding Andrew’s titles.
He added: “The Prime Minister’s thoughts are very much with the victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein who suffered and continue to suffer.”
Four out of five Britons want Prince Andrew to be formally stripped of his dukedom, according to a YouGov poll.
The survey showed 63% of nearly 6,700 adults questioned were “strongly” in favour of a formal removal of the dukedom with 17% “somewhat” supporting the idea.
6% were opposed to it, and 14% did not know.
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