Buckingham Palace said on Thursday that Prince Andrew's honorary military titles and royal patronages have been returned to Queen Elizabeth II with her “approval and agreement."

More than 150 navy and army veterans had written to the queen asking her to strip Andrew of all his military ranks and titles after a U.S. judge said Wednesday a sex assault lawsuit against Andrew could go ahead.

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Members of the British Military's 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Corps of Drums take part in the changing of the guard ceremony outside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, where Prince Andrew residence is nearby in the grounds of Windsor Great Park, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. A judge has — for now — refused to dismiss a lawsuit against Britain's Prince Andrew by an American woman who says he sexually abused her when she was 17. Stressing Wednesday that he wasn't ruling on the truth of the allegations, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rejected an argument by Andrew's lawyers that Virginia Giuffre's lawsuit should be thrown out at an early stage because of an old legal settlement she had with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier she claims set up sexual encounters with the prince. (AP PhotoMatt Dunham)

Buckingham Palace said on Thursday that Prince Andrew's honorary military titles and royal patronages have been returned to Queen Elizabeth II with her “approval and agreement."

Members of the British Military's 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Corps of Drums take part in the changing of the guard ceremony outside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, where Prince Andrew's residence is nearby in the grounds of Windsor Great Park, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. A judge has — for now — refused to dismiss a lawsuit against Britain's Prince Andrew by an American woman who says he sexually abused her when she was 17. Stressing Wednesday that he wasn't ruling on the truth of the allegations, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rejected an argument by Andrew's lawyers that Virginia Giuffre's lawsuit should be thrown out at an early stage because of an old legal settlement she had with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier she claims set up sexual encounters with the prince. (AP PhotoMatt Dunham)

The palace said in a brief statement that “with the queen’s approval and agreement, the Duke of York’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the queen."

This is a photo of a statement provided by Buckingham Palace on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 regarding Britain's Prince Andrew returning his military affiliations and royal patronages to the Queen.  Buckingham Palace says that Prince Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to Queen Elizabeth II with her “approval and agreement.” The palace statement issued on Thursday came after more than 150 navy and army veterans wrote to the queen asking her to strip Andrew of all his military ranks and titles amid continued legal trouble for the prince, who is embroiled in a sex assault lawsuit in the U.S.(Buckingham Palace via AP)

District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rejected an argument by Andrew’s lawyers that Giuffre’s lawsuit should be thrown out at an early stage because of an old legal settlement she had with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier she claims set up sexual encounters with the prince.

FILE - Britain's Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, attends a memorial ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation from German occupation in Bruges, Belgium, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Buckingham Palace says that Prince Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to Queen Elizabeth II with her “approval and agreement.” The palace statement issued on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 came after more than 150 navy and army veterans wrote to the queen asking her to strip Andrew of all his military ranks and titles amid continued legal trouble for the prince, who is embroiled in a sex assault lawsuit in the U.S. (AP PhotoOlivier Matthys, File)

Palace officials have declined to comment on the “ongoing legal matter.”

File Britain's Prince Andrew, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, rides in his first year as the inspecting officer after taking over the role from his father Prince Philip,  late in 2017, during the Colonel's Review on The Mall in London, June 1, 2019. Buckingham Palace says that Prince Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to Queen Elizabeth II with her “approval and agreement.” The palace statement issued on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 came after more than 150 navy and army veterans wrote to the queen asking her to strip Andrew of all his military ranks and titles amid continued legal trouble for the prince, who is embroiled in a sex assault lawsuit in the U.S. (Yui Mok PA via AP, File)

File Britain's Prince Andrew, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, rides in his first year as the inspecting officer after taking over the role from his father Prince Philip, late in 2017, during the Colonel's Review on The Mall in London, June 1, 2019. Buckingham Palace says that Prince Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to Queen Elizabeth II with her “approval and agreement.” The palace statement issued on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 came after more than 150 navy and army veterans wrote to the queen asking her to strip Andrew of all his military ranks and titles amid continued legal trouble for the prince, who is embroiled in a sex assault lawsuit in the U.S. (Yui Mok PA via AP, File)

In a joint letter issued by the group Republic, they said Andrew had “brought the services he is associated into disrepute.”

Members of the British Military's 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Corps of Drums take part in the changing of the guard ceremony outside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, where Prince Andrew residence is nearby in the grounds of Windsor Great Park, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. A judge has — for now — refused to dismiss a lawsuit against Britain's Prince Andrew by an American woman who says he sexually abused her when she was 17. Stressing Wednesday that he wasn't ruling on the truth of the allegations, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rejected an argument by Andrew's lawyers that Virginia Giuffre's lawsuit should be thrown out at an early stage because of an old legal settlement she had with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier she claims set up sexual encounters with the prince. (AP PhotoMatt Dunham)

Members of the British Military's 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Corps of Drums take part in the changing of the guard ceremony outside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, where Prince Andrew residence is nearby in the grounds of Windsor Great Park, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. A judge has — for now — refused to dismiss a lawsuit against Britain's Prince Andrew by an American woman who says he sexually abused her when she was 17. Stressing Wednesday that he wasn't ruling on the truth of the allegations, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rejected an argument by Andrew's lawyers that Virginia Giuffre's lawsuit should be thrown out at an early stage because of an old legal settlement she had with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier she claims set up sexual encounters with the prince. (AP PhotoMatt Dunham)

The palace said in a brief statement that “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," the statement added.

A U.S. district judge on Wednesday refused to dismiss a civil case against Andrew by an American woman, Virginia Giuffre, who alleges the royal sexually abused her when she was 17.

Members of the British Military's 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Corps of Drums take part in the changing of the guard ceremony outside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, where Prince Andrew's residence is nearby in the grounds of Windsor Great Park, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. A judge has — for now — refused to dismiss a lawsuit against Britain's Prince Andrew by an American woman who says he sexually abused her when she was 17. Stressing Wednesday that he wasn't ruling on the truth of the allegations, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rejected an argument by Andrew's lawyers that Virginia Giuffre's lawsuit should be thrown out at an early stage because of an old legal settlement she had with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier she claims set up sexual encounters with the prince. (AP PhotoMatt Dunham)

Members of the British Military's 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Corps of Drums take part in the changing of the guard ceremony outside Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, where Prince Andrew's residence is nearby in the grounds of Windsor Great Park, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. A judge has — for now — refused to dismiss a lawsuit against Britain's Prince Andrew by an American woman who says he sexually abused her when she was 17. Stressing Wednesday that he wasn't ruling on the truth of the allegations, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rejected an argument by Andrew's lawyers that Virginia Giuffre's lawsuit should be thrown out at an early stage because of an old legal settlement she had with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier she claims set up sexual encounters with the prince. (AP PhotoMatt Dunham)

District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan rejected an argument by Andrew’s lawyers that Giuffre’s lawsuit should be thrown out at an early stage because of an old legal settlement she had with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier she claims set up sexual encounters with the prince.

He stressed that he wasn’t ruling on the truth of the allegations.

Andrew's lawyers have said that the royal never sexually abused or assaulted Giuffre and that he “unequivocally denies Giuffre’s false allegations against him.”

This is a photo of a statement provided by Buckingham Palace on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 regarding Britain's Prince Andrew returning his military affiliations and royal patronages to the Queen.  Buckingham Palace says that Prince Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to Queen Elizabeth II with her “approval and agreement.” The palace statement issued on Thursday came after more than 150 navy and army veterans wrote to the queen asking her to strip Andrew of all his military ranks and titles amid continued legal trouble for the prince, who is embroiled in a sex assault lawsuit in the U.S.(Buckingham Palace via AP)

This is a photo of a statement provided by Buckingham Palace on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 regarding Britain's Prince Andrew returning his military affiliations and royal patronages to the Queen. Buckingham Palace says that Prince Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to Queen Elizabeth II with her “approval and agreement.” The palace statement issued on Thursday came after more than 150 navy and army veterans wrote to the queen asking her to strip Andrew of all his military ranks and titles amid continued legal trouble for the prince, who is embroiled in a sex assault lawsuit in the U.S.(Buckingham Palace via AP)

Palace officials have declined to comment on the “ongoing legal matter.”

FILE - Britain's Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, attends a memorial ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation from German occupation in Bruges, Belgium, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Buckingham Palace says that Prince Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to Queen Elizabeth II with her “approval and agreement.” The palace statement issued on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 came after more than 150 navy and army veterans wrote to the queen asking her to strip Andrew of all his military ranks and titles amid continued legal trouble for the prince, who is embroiled in a sex assault lawsuit in the U.S. (AP PhotoOlivier Matthys, File)

FILE - Britain's Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, attends a memorial ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation from German occupation in Bruges, Belgium, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. Buckingham Palace says that Prince Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to Queen Elizabeth II with her “approval and agreement.” The palace statement issued on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 came after more than 150 navy and army veterans wrote to the queen asking her to strip Andrew of all his military ranks and titles amid continued legal trouble for the prince, who is embroiled in a sex assault lawsuit in the U.S. (AP PhotoOlivier Matthys, File)

File Britain's Prince Andrew, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, rides in his first year as the inspecting officer after taking over the role from his father Prince Philip,  late in 2017, during the Colonel's Review on The Mall in London, June 1, 2019. Buckingham Palace says that Prince Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to Queen Elizabeth II with her “approval and agreement.” The palace statement issued on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 came after more than 150 navy and army veterans wrote to the queen asking her to strip Andrew of all his military ranks and titles amid continued legal trouble for the prince, who is embroiled in a sex assault lawsuit in the U.S. (Yui Mok PA via AP, File)

File Britain's Prince Andrew, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, rides in his first year as the inspecting officer after taking over the role from his father Prince Philip, late in 2017, during the Colonel's Review on The Mall in London, June 1, 2019. Buckingham Palace says that Prince Andrew’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to Queen Elizabeth II with her “approval and agreement.” The palace statement issued on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 came after more than 150 navy and army veterans wrote to the queen asking her to strip Andrew of all his military ranks and titles amid continued legal trouble for the prince, who is embroiled in a sex assault lawsuit in the U.S. (Yui Mok PA via AP, File)