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'DISREPUTE'

Prince Andrew should be stripped of ALL his medals and honours, Queen told by more than 150 military veterans

WAR heroes have urged the Queen to strip Prince Andrew of all his military titles after his court battle failed.

The Duke of York, 61, has been accused of sexually assaulting Virginia Roberts Giuffre when she was just 17.

Military heroes are calling for Andrew to be stripped of his honours
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Military heroes are calling for Andrew to be stripped of his honours

A judge has now sensationally given the go-ahead for a civil trial before a jury in New York later this year.

As a result, veterans from the Royal Navy, RAF and Army are now calling for Andrew's military honours to be taken away.

The 152 ex-services personnel have signed an open letter to the Queen, which was released through anti-monarchy group Republic.

They have described their "upset and anger" at Andrew keeping his titles as his position is "untenable".

The group also say the royal has brought the services he is associated with into disrepute and "were this any other senior military officer it is inconceivable that he would still be in post".

They add: "Please do not leave it any longer."

As head of the Armed Forces, honourary military appointments are the Queen's gift.

Andrew's titles have been suspended since he stepped down from public duties in 2019 amid fury at his friendship with paedo Jeffrey Epstein.

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But the duke still retains his roles - leaving eight British regiments in limbo more than two years on.

His honours include Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, Honorary air commodore of RAF Lossiemouth and Deputy colonel-in-chief of The Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeth's Own).

Andrew has not attended a single military event since he stepped back from royal duties two years ago.

And according to reports, officers are now said to have appeared uncomfortable at being asked to drink to the duke's health at the end of regimental dinners.

The letter states: "Officers of the British armed forces must adhere to the very highest standards of probity, honesty and honourable conduct.

"These are standards which Prince Andrew has fallen well short of.

'TOXIC'

"It is hard not to see, when senior officers are reportedly describing him as 'toxic', that he has brought the services he is associated with into disrepute.

"We are therefore asking that you take immediate steps to strip Prince Andrew of all his military ranks and titles and, if necessary, that he be dishonourably discharged."

Andrew denies claims Giuffre was forced to have sex him more than 20 years ago at Ghislaine Maxwell's London home when she was just 17.

Her allegations have dogged Andrew since she first made them in 2011, when a now infamous photograph emerged of him with his hand around her.

Giuffre’s feared lawyer David Boies will grill the royal in front of jurors under oath - and could also question Andrew’s former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, and their daughter Princess Beatrice.

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The ruling is the latest setback for Andrew, who has tried to disassociate himself from Maxwell and her paedo ex Jeffrey Epstein.

The case also represents a huge embarrassment for the royal family, as the Queen prepares to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee.

Prince Andrew has denied ever meeting Virginia Roberts Giuffre
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Prince Andrew has denied ever meeting Virginia Roberts Giuffre
Royal family support for Prince Andrew is 'thin on the ground' with only immediate family behind duke, expert claims
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