Northern Ireland Town Strips Prince Andrew’s Name from Street Over Epstein Scandal
Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland – 27 November 2025 (BNN Web Staff) – In a landmark decision, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has become the first local authority in the United Kingdom to erase the Duke of York’s name from a public street, voting unanimously to rename Prince Andrew Way in the historic coastal town of Carrickfergus.
The move follows King Charles III’s formal decision earlier this month to permanently strip his younger brother – now styled simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – of all remaining royal titles and public roles over his documented ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the settled civil sexual-assault lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre.
“Andrew Mountbatten no longer represents the values of Carrickfergus,” said local councillor Aaron Skinner, who proposed the change. “If it’s good enough for the King to remove his titles, then it’s good enough for us.”
The busy thoroughfare, located just 10 miles northeast of Belfast, will lose its royal association after Monday night’s vote. Residents largely welcomed the decision, with many questioning why it had taken so long.
- “It should have been changed the moment Virginia Giuffre’s allegations went public,” said Lesley Rockett, 41, a local care worker who recently read Giuffre’s memoir. “The book is absolutely damning.”
- Retired power-station worker William Foster, 68, added: “It reflects badly on the whole community. The name has to go.”
One of the existing “Prince Andrew Way” signs was vandalised with black paint several months ago, underscoring growing public discomfort.
What Happens Next?
The council will now launch a public consultation on a new name. Suggestions already on the table include:
- Princess Catherine Way (in honour of the Princess of Wales)
- Queen Elizabeth II Way (paying tribute to the late monarch)
A final decision is expected after a fresh council vote in the coming months.
Several councils in England have indicated they are reviewing streets and buildings named after the disgraced royal, but Mid and East Antrim is the first to act.
For the people of Carrickfergus – a proud town with a 12th-century Norman castle and deep royal history – the unanimous vote marks a symbolic break with a figure whose reputation has become irreparably tarnished.
