Calls to change ‘embarrassing’ Prince Andrew road names in Maidenhead | Andrew Mountbatten Windsor
As if the ignominy of losing their royal titles wasn’t enough for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, residents living on roads named after the disgraced former prince are now calling for their addresses to be renamed.
Prince Andrew Road and the adjacent Prince Andrew Close in Maidenhead are named after Queen Elizabeth II. It was named after Elizabeth’s third child, who was born in 1960.
Some residents of the two roads have suggested the roads should be renamed after details emerged about Mountbatten Windsor’s friendship with deceased child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the royal family was warned by allegations made against him by one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Giuffre.
Mountbatten Windsor has always denied allegations that he had sex with Giuffre when she was 17, and settled a civil lawsuit with Giuffre for £12 million, without admitting any liability.
Last week, King Charles launched a “formal process to strip Prince Andrew of his style, titles and honours.” He will also leave his home at Royal Lodge in Windsor, about seven miles off Prince Andrew Road.
Prince Andrew Road resident Tom Kirk He told the Maidenhead Advertiser His address, a short walk from the River Thames, now has an “embarrassing connotation”.
“Eyebrows always go up when you talk to someone, order something or tell someone where you live,” he told the paper.
“The association has an ethical perspective. Considering the seriousness of the allegations that have emerged, the name of this road is now causing controversy.
“From a community perspective, where you live should reflect strong values such as honesty, equality and respect.
“This road name doesn’t actually represent that.”
Kirk contacted Windsor and Maidenhead council to investigate the name change process.
Another citizen, who did not want to give his name, said that the name should be changed. Them he told the BBC: “Some people might say there are plenty of bad men and women in the world who have buildings named after them. They haven’t been altered, torn down, etc. But I think, if we can, why not explore it?”
Others were more cautious about the impact the address change would have. Trisha Ray, who has lived in Prince Andrew Road since 1977, told the Maidenhead Advertiser: “With all the people I have to contact with my new address, I think it’s probably going to be more trouble than it’s worth.”
Windsor and Maidenhead council is following guidelines on renaming streets. In exceptional cases, residents can apply to the municipality to change the name of a street. This can be done if there is confusion about the name of the street, if residents agree that the street name should be changed, or if the current numbering system is causing problems.
A council spokesman said: “There is a formal legal process for requests to rename street names.
“The council also has its own criteria and standards that must be met, including full consent from all affected property owners and adherence to national addressing codes.
“Any formal applications will be evaluated in accordance with these procedures. More details, including requirements and fees, can be found on our website.”
