NOTE: Queen Elizabeth on Thursday stripped her son Prince Andrew of all his honorary military titles and royal roles after a US judge on Wednesday refused to dismiss a civil case against him. As a result Andrew will no longer use the style “His Royal Highness” in any official capacity. A lawsuit ( under the Child Victims Act) filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by Virginia Giuffre, accuses Andrew of sexually abusing her on separate occasions — in London and New York and on Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands — about 20 years ago when she was under age 18. The suit seeks damages for battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
A statement from Buckingham Palace regarding The Duke of York
Published 13 January 2022
With The Queen’s approval and agreement, The Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to The Queen.
The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.
Legal Reference
The Laws of New York
Child Victims Act
§ 130.95 Predatory sexual assault.
A person is guilty of predatory sexual assault when he or she commits the crime of rape in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, aggravated sexual abuse in the first degree, or course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, as defined in this article, and when:
1. In the course of the commission of the crime or the immediate flight therefrom, he or she:
(a) Causes serious physical injury to the victim of such crime; or
(b) Uses or threatens the immediate use of a dangerous instrument; or
2. He or she has engaged in conduct constituting the crime of rape in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, aggravated sexual abuse in the first degree, or course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, as defined in this article, against one or more additional persons; or
3. He or she has previously been subjected to a conviction for a felony defined in this article, incest as defined in section 255.25 of this chapter or use of a child in a sexual performance as defined in section 263.05 of this chapter.
Predatory sexual assault is a class A-II felony.
SECTION 130.96
Predatory sexual assault against a child
Penal (PEN) CHAPTER 40, PART 3, TITLE H, ARTICLE 130
§ 130.96 Predatory sexual assault against a child.
A person is guilty of predatory sexual assault against a child when, being eighteen years old or more, he or she commits the crime of rape in the first degree, criminal sexual act in the first degree, aggravated sexual abuse in the first degree, or course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, as defined in this article, and the victim is less than thirteen years old.
Predatory sexual assault against a child is a class A-II felony.
