A Northern Irish council has taken the first step towards removing a controversial royal name from its streets. Mid and East Antrim Council has unanimously agreed to begin the formal process of renaming Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus.
From Celebration to Disgrace
The road was originally christened in 1986 to commemorate the wedding of Prince Andrew to Sarah Ferguson. However, the disgraced former royal has since been stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages, and in October he was removed from the royal family's official website.
This action follows his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations by the late Virginia Giuffre that he sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager. Prince Andrew has consistently denied these accusations.
Cross-Party Support for Change
The motion to rename the street was proposed by Alliance Party councillor Lauren Gray during a council meeting. She revealed that constituents had been suggesting the change since her election in 2019, with demand growing substantially over the past year.
"In recent weeks as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor stepped away from some of the titles conferred on him, and now with the royal family removing his style, title and honours, we're now in the space to have this conversation," Councillor Gray stated.
The motion received support from all political parties represented on the council, including:
- DUP
- UUP
- TUV
- Sinn Féin
Councillor Gray suggested that renaming the street after Queen Elizabeth II would be a "fitting tribute" to the late monarch, while maintaining Carrickfergus's historical connection with the royal family.
Complex Process Ahead
The council's interim chief executive, Valerie Watts, warned that while achievable, the renaming process is complex. "There is no council policy for changing the name of a street, and it's not just straightforward," she advised.
Approximately 10 addresses are located on Prince Andrew Way, and residents will need to be thoroughly consulted due to the practical implications of an address change, including updates to:
- Bank accounts and credit cards
- Driver's licences
- Utility bills
Council officers will now prepare a detailed report outlining the procedure for a public consultation, which will include engagement with agencies such as Royal Mail. The people of Carrickfergus will ultimately have their say on what replaces the controversial royal name.
