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Britain's Prince Andrew Steps Back From Royal Duties After Scandal

Marissa Melton

   Britain's Prince Andrew has announced he will step down from his public
   duties because of the controversy over his involvement with the late
   financier Jeffrey Epstein, who committed suicide in prison earlier this
   year.

   A statement from Buckingham Palace, issued Wednesday, said the scandal
   has become a "major disruption" to the royal family's work and to the
   charities associated with Prince Andrew, a younger brother to
   heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles.

   In the statement, Andrew said he had asked Queen Elizabeth II if he
   could "step back from public duties for the foreseeable future" and
   said she had given her permission.