London : In the end, it was a very modern downfall: an email led to a phone call, and the Duke of York was, on the face of it, no more.

After fraught negotiations through last week, and after decades of scandal suddenly came to a head, Prince Andrew agreed to stop using his title .

The King, supported by his elder son and siblings, moved to persuade his brother to “do the right thing”.

Andrew was allowed to issue a statement saying he was acting out of duty, for family and country, in what the palace hopes will be enough to stave off growing public opprobrium over the mounting scandals to his name.

Some have already said it does not go far enough. It does not officially remove his Duke of York title, nor change his position in any constitutional sense.

The family of Virginia Robert

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