Most papers lead with Prince Andrew giving up his titles, including the Duke of York. The Times writes that the decision marks a “fall from grace” over his links to the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and alleged links to a Chinese spy.
Prince Andrew will retain the title of a prince because, as the son of a monarch, it is his “birthright”, the Daily Express reports. His former wife Sarah Ferguson will no longer be the Duchess of York.
In his statement, Prince Andrew wrote that he had agreed to stop using his titles because he had “always put my duty to my family and country first”, the Daily Telegraph reports. King Charles III is said to be “glad” about the outcome, the paper reports.
“Andrew falls on his sword” is the headline for the Daily Mail, which reports that Prince Andrew’s decision came after “intense pressure” from the King. The prince will also be stepping down from membership of the Order of the Garter, which the paper describes as the country’s “most ancient order of chivalry”.
“Banned old Duke of York” is the Daily Star’s take. The paper says reports suggest the decision comes after the King reached “tipping point” over Prince Andrew’s involvement with Epstein.
The Sun also splashes its front page with the same headline, reporting that the Prince of Wales was also involved in telling Prince Andrew to give up his titles.
The i weekend says that while Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson will lose their titles, their daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are unaffected. The paper reports that despite the move, a private lease agreement with the Crown Estate means the prince can stay in residence at Royal Lodge in Windsor.
The Financial Times leads with the latest meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss ending the Ukraine war. It marks the pair’s third meeting this year and comes a day after Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The paper reports that Zelensky appealed to Trump to provide Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles, saying the US leader “now has a big chance to finish this war”.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she “can’t leave welfare untouched” as the Treasury is considering axing up to £1bn in tax breaks for cars for disabled people, reports the Guardian. When asked about benefits, the paper quotes an interview Reeves gave to Channel 4 on Friday, saying, “We have to do reform in the right way and take people with us”.
Finally, the Daily Mirror teases an exclusive interview with former England footballer Paul Gascoigne on his struggle with alcohol addiction.
Prince Andrew features on most of the front pages, after announcing he’ll give up his titles, including the Duke of York. “Fall from grace” says the Times. The Daily Mirror calls it a “royal bombshell”. The i Weekend says Buckingham Palace has sent Prince Andrew into “exile”, as it tries to end the “distractions” amid the continuing controversy about his links to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “Andrew falls on his sword” says the Daily Mail, which reports that the prince’s decision came after “intense pressure” from the King. Both the Sun and the Daily Star use the headline “the banned old Duke of York”.
The Daily Telegraph reports the King is said to be “glad” Prince Andrew has agreed to give up his titles. The Guardian says the agreement was made after high-level meetings at Buckingham Palace as aides were said to have finally reached a “tipping point”. The papers also report that the prince used his announcement to say he “vigorously” denies the allegations against him.
The Daily Express welcomes the news in its leader column saying “common sense has prevailed”. The Daily Mail says it was a “long time coming” but the prince has “finally done the right thing”. The Daily Mirror notes that it took pressure from the King to push him “grudgingly into action”. The papers sums up by saying “what a final and apt humiliation”.
According to the Sun, the chancellor is looking at raising taxes on electric vehicle drivers. The paper says proposals are being drawn up as EV drivers do not pay fuel duty, but still contribute to congestion and wear and tear on the roads. The Treasury is said to be keen to ensure all drivers pay their “fair share”, but no decisions have been made yet.
And the Daily Telegraph reports that fishing is to be offered on the school curriculum for the first time. Students are going to be able to study a course called Angling and Countryside as an equivalent to GCSE, BTEC and A-Levels. The chief executive of the Angling Trust, Jamie Cook, tells the paper the qualification will offer a route into the natural world for young people.
