(CMR) Prince Andrew, who is facing a U.S. civil lawsuit that accuses him of having sex with a teenager trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein, has lost his royal patronages and military titles, Buckingham Palace announced Thursday.
Prince Andrew (61), who denies the lawsuit allegations, will also stop using the style of His Royal Highness in an official capacity.
The move to have the patronages and titles returned to the Queen comes with Queen Elizabeth II's “approval and agreement,” the palace said.
The Duke of York is expected to “continue to defend himself” against the case brought in New York by Virginia Giuffre.
A judge in the city ruled on Wednesday that the case brought by Ms. Giuffre could continue after the prince tried to have it dismissed.
Giuffre said Andrew sexually abused her when she was a minor at the invitation of the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. However, Andrew has repeatedly denied the allegations.
Thursday’s decision means the former navy pilot is now facing his accuser alone, without the backing of the palace or his mother, the Queen.
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