Royal Titles Surrendered: From Prince Andrew to Harry and Meghan, Royals Who Stepped Back From Duties

Prince Andrew has relinquished his Duke of York title amid ongoing accusations that he stated were distracting from the Royal Family's work.

Prince Andrew, King Charles's younger brother, announced on Friday he would step down from his role as Duke of York following years of controversy surrounding his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In his statement, Prince Andrew explained that the "continued accusations" against him were creating unwanted distractions from the Royal Family's duties. While retaining his prince status, he surrenders both his dukedom and membership in the prestigious Order of the Garter.

His former spouse, Sarah Ferguson, also loses her Duchess of York title, though their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie maintain their royal designations.

Here are 15 other royals who have surrendered titles, abdicated thrones, or withdrawn from royal responsibilities throughout history:

1) The Duke and Duchess of Windsor

King Edward VIII abdicated the British throne on December 10, 1936, less than a year into his reign to marry Wallis Simpson, a divorcee. Following his abdication, he became the Duke of Windsor, keeping his Royal Highness style. Simpson received the Duchess of Windsor title but was denied the "Her Royal Highness" designation.

2) Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

On January 8, 2020, Meghan and Prince Harry announced their decision to step back from senior royal positions. The couple subsequently relocated to California with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

3) Diana, Princess of Wales

Following her 1996 divorce from then-Prince Charles, Diana reportedly lost her Her Royal Highness title but maintained her Kensington Palace apartment and certain royal privileges. She tragically died in a Paris car accident in 1997.

4) Prince Philip

Before his marriage to the future Queen Elizabeth II in 1947, Prince Philip gave up his Greek and Danish royal titles, became a British citizen, and adopted the Mountbatten surname. He was created Duke of Edinburgh and served as Queen's consort until his death at 99 in April 2021.

6) Princess Mako of Japan

Princess Mako, Emperor Naruhito's niece, surrendered her royal title to marry commoner Kei Komuro in October 2021. The couple now resides in New York, where Mako works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art while Komuro passed the state bar examination in 2022.

7) Prince Friso of the Netherlands

Prince Friso forfeited his title as Prince of the Netherlands in 2004 after marrying Mabel Wisse Smit without parliamentary approval. Once second in the line of succession, he passed away in 2013 due to complications from a skiing accident.

8) Princess Anne's Children

Princess Anne and her husband Mark Phillips declined royal titles for their children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, allowing them to lead normal lives. Both have established independent careers, with Zara achieving recognition as an Olympic equestrian.

9) The Swedish Royal Grandchildren

In 2019, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden removed the "Royal Highness" status from five of his grandchildren to streamline the monarchy. They retain their prince and princess titles, though now only as personal designations rather than official roles.

10) Princess Ayako of Japan

Princess Ayako married commoner Kei Moriya in October 2018, consequently relinquishing her royal status and becoming Ayako Moriya. She is Princess Mako's second cousin, who similarly surrendered her royal position for love.

11) Emperor Akihito of Japan

Emperor Akihito abdicated in 2019 citing health concerns, becoming the first Japanese monarch to do so in nearly two centuries. His son, Emperor Naruhito, succeeded him, continuing Japan's imperial lineage that spans more than 2,000 years.

12) Beatrix of the Netherlands

Queen Beatrix abdicated in 2013 after 33 years as monarch, transferring the crown to her son, King Willem-Alexander. She reverted to her Princess Beatrix title, following the Dutch royal tradition of voluntary abdication.

13) Prince Michael of Kent

Prince Michael of Kent surrendered his succession rights in 1978 to marry Catholic Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz. He was later reinstated in the line of succession in 2015 when succession laws were modified.

14) Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

After 52 years on the throne, Queen Margrethe II abdicated in January 2024, citing age and health issues. Her son, King Frederik X, succeeded her. She made history as Denmark's first female monarch under the 1953 Act of Succession.

15) King Juan Carlos I of Spain

King Juan Carlos I abdicated in 2014 in favor of his son, King Felipe VI, after nearly four decades of rule. In 2020, amid corruption allegations, he left Spain, eventually returning in 2022 after investigations were discontinued.