LONDON — He is no longer a prince, or a duke. An earl, or a highness. He is now just Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. But his name is still causing headaches — and provoking debate — in some British towns where it graces signs for residential streets, businesses and even a chapel.
In October, King Charles III stripped Andrew of his titles and honors, in light of continuing revelations about his younger brother’s involvement with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew is also set to be evicted from his lavish Windsor mansion. He denies the allegations against him.
The very public fall from grace for the 65-year-old has prompted debates across the country over the name of streets such as Prince Andrew Road in the town of Maidenhead, England, which joins a street named Prince Andrew Close, and Prince Andrew’s Road in Norwich, England, which some argue was actually named after Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. “Prince Andrew Way” in the town of Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, will officially be getting a new name after a council vote.
In Norfolk, England, a sign at Prince Andrews Chapel has been removed. Now, the wording reads: “chapel.”
In January, the chapel will be submitting an official request to the government to change its name, according to church leader John Wrighton. Wrighton said it “is the right time,” adding that the congregation seem happy with the decision — which was accelerated by the king’s announcement, he said.
The chapel was named for the street it sits on, Prince Andrews Close. According to Wrighton, residents looked into a possible name change for the street but concluded that it would be too onerous, requiring them to change details on all official documents such as driver’s licenses, insurance policies and household bills.
The chapel, in the village of Aldborough, is set to be renamed as “Aldborough Chapel,” Wrighton said.
On Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus, there are 10 residential addresses and a small number of commercial properties, according to local councillor Aaron Skinner. The road was named in 1986 following Andrew’s marriage to Sarah Ferguson, according to British media.
Skinner said in an email that he had spoken with “many residents” of the town who are “deeply uneasy” about continuing to honor the former prince in such a way. Calls for the road to change its name increased “dramatically” since the king’s decision to remove his brother’s titles, Skinner said. In November, councillors unanimously backed a motion from the Alliance party to rename the controversial street, which they cited as an “ongoing issue.”
“It is clear that he no longer reflects the values of our community. Given everything that has come to light and continues to come to light, the name needs to change,” he said.
The vote marks the first time that Mid and East Antrim Council will have to rename one of its streets — a complicated process that will “take time,” Skinner said.
“There are lots of public bodies to consult including the Royal Household and most importantly for us a public consultation with the people of Carrickfergus,” he said, adding that locals would make the decision on the road’s new name.
Skinner did not share any top contenders for a new name, saying it was “too early in the process,” but noted that the town has “very rich” royal heritage and that William and Catherine also hold the titles of Baron and Baroness of Carrickfergus — which Queen Elizabeth bestowed on them in 2011 when they married.
“We feel that maintaining that royal link is very important,” Skinner said.
But living on a road named after the former prince “is hardly desirable,” said British royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, who in an email described the Andrew allegations as a “unique” issue for the royal family. “The problem with handling this scandal is that the palace [doesn’t] know what more is to be revealed,” Fitzwilliams said. “It seems a lot more.”
Andrew in 2022 settled a civil lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, who said she was forced to have sexual encounters with Andrew as a teen after being trafficked by Epstein. She died by suicide in April, and her memoir published in October. The same month, a YouGov poll found Andrew had the worst ever popularity ratings for a royal with 91 percent of Britons holding a negative opinion of him.
Outside the Duke of York pub in London’s Fitzrovia neighborhood, a sign featuring an image of Andrew once hung outside. A larger portrait of the former duke also featured prominently on the side of the building.
Now both are gone, but the pub’s name remains. According to Heydon Mizon, the pub’s owner, it’s believed to have been named in 1791 after Prince Frederick, who was the Duke of York and Albany at the time.
Mizon said the former tenants kept the sign when they moved out and that the larger tribute to Andrew was “updated” as part of a 1 million pound (about $1.3 million) investment to the building. Photos from January show the sign being removed and bundled into a van.
Guests, he said, seem to love the updates.
Thousands of miles away, a different kind of institution has also wiped away its links to the former royal. Prince Andrew School on St. Helena, a remote British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean, has officially changed its name to St. Helena Secondary School.
The school was rebranded this year because of “several factors,” including “public controversy and negative media coverage.” In a February news release, the St. Helena government said that the school’s name change was approved by Buckingham Palace.
“While we respect history, we must also be mindful of how past associations impact the present and future,” Head Teacher Phil Toal said in the news release. “Choosing a new name allows us to honour the contributions of our students and community without the burden of controversial ties.”
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