PRINCE Andrew is no longer a member of Scotland's most prestigious golf club as he prepares to face a public lawsuit over sexual abuse claims.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club has faced questions over his honorary life memership in light of the allegations by Virginia Guiffre.
She claims she was trafficked from the US to London for sex with the prince by convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2001 when she was 17 years old.
Prince Andrew has denied the claims contained in a civil lawsuit launched by Giuffre and requested a trial by jury.
Known as the Earl of Inverness in Scotland, he has been stripped of his military and other royal patronages.
The R&A has now revealed that Andrew has given up his honorary place there.
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A spokesperson for the Fife club, at which he was once a captain, said: "I can confirm that The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews has received notification that the Duke of York will relinquish his Honorary Membership.
"We respect and appreciate his decision."
The move comes after some other clubs broke their association with Prince Andrew.
At the time when he took up his captainship in 2004, the R&A's 250th year, he said it was "an enormous privilege, an honour and a dream come true".
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