Calls to change ‘Prince Andrew’ place names after King strips title
Calls to change street signs and place names in Prince Andrew’s honor have intensified across Britain after the King’s brother was stripped of his titles.
Numerous places across the country now bear the name of the controversial royal, with some regions already initiating formal processes for the change.
Councilors in Northern Ireland are set to debate a proposal to rename Prince Andrew Way in the coastal Co Antrim town of Carrickfergus in November. Mid and East Antrim councilor Aaron Skinner said he would “like to see the road named after the late Queen Elizabeth II instead”.
The Alliance party representative, who presented his party’s request to the council, said residents had for some time raised concerns about the street name because of Andrew’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.
Mr Skinner said he had been subject to calls about the issue since news broke about the King’s decision to strip his brother of his titles.
“Preserving the royal legacy of Carrickfergus and keeping it in place is very important to us and we are very honored to have it, but we do not think Prince Andrew is appropriate (as a name), especially in light of the palace’s actions,” he said.
“The title no longer exists so we have put forward a motion for council officers to look at options for renaming it in a way that preserves the Royal legacy and we would love to see it named after the late monarch Queen Elizabeth II, for example, but obviously this is a matter for the royal family.
“So what we’re asking is for council staff to look at the options and come back to council and explain how we can rename this and what we can rename it as.”
Mr Skinner said he hoped there would be unanimous political support on the council for a change.
“We’ve been receiving correspondence (from residents) about this for years, certainly before I joined the council, but it’s really escalated in the last few weeks as the palace has started to take action. And we’ve certainly been inundated in the last 24 hours.”
There are other places named after Prince Andrew in Northern Ireland: Prince Andrew Gardens and the adjacent Prince Andrew Park in south Belfast; and Prince Andrew Crescent in Moygashel, Co Tyrone, which is part of the Mid Ulster District Council area.
US lawyer Gloria Allred, who represents several of Epstein’s victims, supported moves to change the names.
“Especially Prince Andrew Way,” he told BBC Radio Ulster. “Because we don’t like the way he does things and the people he associates with.”
A Mid and East Antrim County Council spokesman said: “Mid and East Antrim County Council is aware of the statement issued by Her Majesty regarding the official process for the removal of the style, titles and honors of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
“Any potential changes to street names within the borough would need to be brought before the council for consideration.”
A spokesman for Belfast City Council said: “Any application to rename a street must be accompanied by a petition showing that at least a third of the residents of the street express interest/support in changing the street name.
“This petition should state which name is proposed, along with the option of a second street name.
“The application, along with the supporting petition, is then presented to the committee and council for approval to progress the application.
“If the application is approved, the municipality will conduct its own survey to obtain the opinions of all people affected by the name change of the street. The survey will include all residents over the age of 18 registered in the electoral roll and the owner or tenant of the commercial buildings on the street.
“Following this survey, if the council survey shows that at least two-thirds of residents agree with the proposed name change, the application for a recommendation to change the street name will be forwarded to the committee.
“If an application is approved, the council will supply and erect new street nameplates to replace existing nameplates and notify relevant stakeholders and the applicant that the street renaming has been approved.”
A statement from Mid Ulster District Council said: “The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 1995 gives the council discretion to approve street names, so this is a matter for elected members of the council and any proposed changes to the street name will be put to the council for consideration.”
