A concerted effort is now underway across the United Kingdom to remove the name of Prince Andrew from streets, roads, and closes, as councils and residents act to sever ties with the disgraced royal.
Councils Take Action on "Sad But Necessary" Changes
The movement to rename public highways honouring the Duke of York has gained significant momentum. In a notable case, Mid and East Antrim council in Northern Ireland passed a motion to change Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus. The road was originally named to mark his 1986 marriage to Sarah Ferguson. One councillor described the decision as "sad but necessary".
Meanwhile, in Berkshire, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has streamlined the process for residents wishing to change addresses. The area contains both a Prince Andrew Road and a Prince Andrew Close. Previously, unanimous resident agreement was required for a change, but a new rule means only two-thirds of residents need to agree. The council motion passed with 31 votes for, four against, and two abstentions.
Residents Welcome Disassociation from Scandal
For those living on affected streets, the change cannot come soon enough. Aman Gandhi, a resident of Prince Andrew Road in Maidenhead, expressed his relief at the rule change, telling the BBC that mentioning his road name had become "awkward".
"It's not a name that you want attributed to where you're living," Mr Gandhi said. "From my perspective, the sooner [the renaming] comes, the better."
The issue is widespread, with roads bearing Andrew's name and royal prefix found in locations including:
- Cambridge
- Hitchin
- Telford
- Newport
- Enniskillen
- Dungannon
The renaming process is logistically complex, requiring updates to a vast array of personal documents. Residents must change details on bank accounts, credit cards, driving licences, utility bills, property deeds, and even pet microchips.
Expert Warns Scandal May Have Further to Run
This civic action follows Prince Andrew being formally stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages by King Charles III, and his style of 'His Royal Highness' in official use. The moves came in the fallout from civil sex assault allegations linked to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which the prince has consistently denied.
According to Mark Landler, London bureau chief for The New York Times, the royal family's decisive actions may be anticipatory. Speaking on The Royals podcast, he suggested King Charles's "difficult decision" to "go all the way" could be linked to the impending, congressionally mandated release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
"I think we will see more; I actually think that we may see more on Andrew," Landler stated, indicating the saga may not be over. The release of these files, prompted by the US Epstein Files Transparency Act, could potentially reveal new information.
As councils act and experts speculate, the physical landscape of Britain is being altered, street sign by street sign, to reflect a profound and ongoing shift in the Duke of York's public standing.
