Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus was already a vandalism magnet, the sign defaced, the name a punchline, long before Mid and East Antrim Council finally agreed that the days of honouring Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor are over. Now, in a unanimous decision, the council has begun the process of wiping his name off the map entirely, making it the first UK street to do so. And they are warning residents: this is not going to be simple, painless, or quick.
For locals living on the street, the reasons for the change are obvious. Andrew has been stripped of titles, removed from Royal Lodge, and vanished completely from public life due to his ties with Jeffrey Epstein. His accuser’s memoir, released just weeks ago, and his repeated mentions in newly disclosed US legal files have pushed the situation far beyond repair. He continues to deny all allegations, but his public status is effectively dust.
Councillor Lauren Gray said the renaming debate first surfaced back in 2019, but recent events have made keeping the name “impossible.” Her proposal? Stick with a royal theme, but switch to a figure who actually commands respect: Queen Elizabeth II. Gray described her as a “strong female leader in a male-dominated world,” and insists that the people of Carrickfergus should decide their new street name collectively.
Councillor Anna Henry called the motion “sad but necessary,” bluntly arguing that Andrew’s alleged behaviour “made it impossible for this council to continue honouring him.”
But even with unanimous agreement, nothing about this is straightforward. Interim chief executive Valerie Watts spelled it out: there is no existing policy for changing a street name. And residents, all 10 households affected, will have to overhaul everything from their bank details to their driver’s licences, credit cards, utility bills, postal addresses, and more. The council is now investigating whether it can cover any of the costs.
There are also procedural hoops: they must consult the public, coordinate with Royal Mail, and liaise with the royal household itself. In other words, removing the name is one thing. Unknotting the red tape is another.
Meanwhile, similar movements are emerging elsewhere in the UK as residents of other Prince Andrew named streets ask how they can get their own addresses updated.
This comes amid renewed scrutiny from the US. Andrew recently failed to respond to a request from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding his knowledge of Epstein’s trafficking network. Two committee members have already said his silence “speaks volumes.”
The prime minister refused to be drawn into the matter, sticking to the familiar line: it’s Andrew’s decision whether to cooperate. But he added that “anybody who has got relevant information… should give that evidence to those who need it.”
And with President Trump now ordering the Epstein files released within 30 days, Andrew’s shrinking public world may become even smaller.
His name might be disappearing from street signs. The consequences, however, are still very much approaching.
