Prince Andrew relinquishes another treasured role ahead of civil court case
PRINCE ANDREW gave up his honorary membership of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A), it has been revealed today.
Prince Andrew ‘demands jury trial’ in civil sex case
The Duke of York, known to love the sport, relinquished his honorary membership of one of the world's oldest golf clubs, located in Scotland. An R&A spokesman confirmed Prince Andrew's move saying in a statement: "I can confirm that the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has received notification that the Duke of York will relinquish his Honorary Membership.
"We respect and appreciate his decision."
Over the decades, the Duke of York has been the patron of more than 20 golf clubs, societies and associations.
This announcement comes two weeks after Prince Andrew returned his military and honorary patronages to the Queen.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement earlier this month: "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."
Following this move, the Duke retained his private patronages and memberships.
He also kept his HRH style - but royal sources said he won't be using it in any official settings.
Prince Andrew is being sued by Virginia Giuffre, formerly Virginia Roberts, who accuses him of having committed "sexual assault and battery" upon her when she was 17.
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Ms Giuffre, who launched her legal case against Andrew last summer, claims to have been trafficked by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with the Duke on three different occasions in 2001.
Andrew has repeatedly and firmly denied these allegations and any wrongdoing.
Prince Andrew's lawyers had previously tried to have the legal case thrown out.
However, New York Judge Lewis A. Kaplan announced his ruling against the Duke's application on January 12 - the day before Andrew's relinquished some of his honorary titles and patronages.
On January 26, the Duke's legal team submitted his official response to Ms Giuffre's claims.
In the legal document, Andrew demanded a "trial by jury on all causes of action asserted in the complaint."
In his official response to the serious claims, the Duke issued 41 denials, rejecting all allegations of wrongdoing.
He also denied the fact he was a "close friend" of Epstein's girlfriend and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
Andrew also said 40 times he "lacks sufficient information to admit or deny" other claims made by Ms Giuffre against him.
Moreover, he submitted eight admissions - including an acknowledgement he lives at Royal Lodge in Windsor, he is a UK citizen and he stayed at Epstein's mansion in Manhattan during a trip to New York in 2010.
The Duke's lawyers also wrote in his response 11 defences calling for the case to be dismissed.
Prince Andrew is a Falklands War veteran who, over the years, has held several honorary military titles.
Among those he returned to the sovereign, there are the ones of Royal Colonel of the Royal Highland Fusiliers, Colonel-in-chief of the Royal Highland Fusiliers in Canada and Commodore-in-chief of the Fleet Air Arm.
He is also no longer Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.
The Queen is expected to redistribute some of these titles to the remaining 11 working royals.