Despite a sweeping and dramatic reduction in his active royal life and the loss of many prestigious honours, former Prince Andrew retains two key privileges stemming from his birthright: his position in the line of succession to the British throne and the title of Counsellor of State on paper.
The retention of these perks comes even after substantial disciplinary actions by the monarchy, including his brother, King Charles III, and Buckingham Palace, which have resulted in him relinquishing titles such as the Duke of York and his honorary military roles. His remaining advantages are a direct consequence of his status as the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Constitutional Birthright: Line of Succession
Prince Andrew, who no longer performs any official royal duties or publicly uses his previous styled titles, remains technically in the line of succession to the British throne.
Current Position: Andrew is officially eighth in line for the throne.
Order of Succession: This places him after the King’s direct descendants: Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Harry, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet.
Fundamental Status: This constitutional status remains intact, as it is inherited by birth and is not tied to active royal service or public favour.
The order of succession places him after the children of his nephew, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, confirming his rank despite the major controversy surrounding his public withdrawal.
Counsellor of State: A Title Without A Role
Andrew also officially holds the title of Counsellor of State. This is an historic position that authorizes a senior member of the Royal Family to carry out some of the monarch’s official duties if the sovereign is temporarily unwell or absent abroad.
Current Counsellors: The official Royal Family website lists the current Counsellors of State as The Queen (Queen Camilla), The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke of Sussex, Prince Andrew, and Princess Beatrice.
Legislation Restriction: Crucially, a 2022 legislation change, along with established practice, effectively prevents Prince Andrew from ever acting in this capacity. Counsellors of State must now be active, working members of the Royal Family.
Practical Exclusion: Due to Andrew’s withdrawal from public life, he and his nephew, the Duke of Sussex (Prince Harry), are essentially prohibited from carrying out the duties associated with the role, even though the title remains on official documentation.
In essence, while the disciplinary actions have caused many of his institutional roles to evaporate, his birthright continues to protect these two specific privileges, maintaining a link to the monarchy’s constitutional core.