In the town of Carrickfergus, County Antrim, a quiet street has become the unlikely focus of a national debate over legacy, scandal, and the meaning of public honour. On November 24, 2025, councillors from the Mid and East Antrim Council voted to begin the process of renaming Prince Andrew Way—a street originally christened in 1986 to celebrate the marriage of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to Sarah Ferguson. The decision follows the dramatic fall from grace of the former prince, whose ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have cast a long shadow over his public image and, by extension, the street that bears his name.
The move to reconsider the street’s name is not merely a bureaucratic gesture. According to BBC News NI, "It's something people have been talking to us about for a long time. This has been raised by a lot of people about how appropriate it is." That sense of unease has only grown in recent months. Earlier in October, Andrew relinquished all his royal titles, including the Duke of York and Baron Killyleagh, in a personal statement. This was swiftly followed by a formal announcement from the King, stripping Andrew of his style, titles, and honours—a response to mounting controversy over his continued association with Epstein, as well as the re-emergence of 2011 emails showing contact between the two men long after Andrew claimed their friendship had ended.
Pressure on the royal family intensified with the posthumous publication of a memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who repeated her allegations of sexual encounters with Andrew when she was a teenager. Andrew has always denied these accusations, but the revelations and persistent scrutiny have left many questioning whether it is still appropriate for the town to honour him in such a visible way. As one local resident, Robyn Taylor, told the BBC, "I think it should be renamed definitely, because of the scandal, but don't know what you should call it. Maybe something to do with the Queen would be a good idea... then that's paying respect to our majesty."
Alliance Party councillor Lauren Gray was the first to formally propose the motion to rename the street, suggesting that any new name should maintain Carrickfergus’s long-standing connection to the royal family. "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," Gray explained during the council meeting. She emphasized her desire to see the street renamed in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, describing the late monarch as "a long-serving monarch, a strong female leader in a male-dominated world."
The motion quickly gained cross-party support. Councillor Aaron Skinner, also from the Alliance Party, seconded the proposal and spoke of the discomfort many residents felt about continuing to honour Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. "There is a strong belief that he no longer reflects the values of our community," Skinner said, adding, "Renaming the street will not be simple," and noting the necessity of involving multiple statutory bodies, including the Royal Household.
Representatives from the Ulster Unionist Party, Democratic Unionist Party, Traditional Unionist Voice, and Sinn Fein all backed the move. UUP councillor Bethany Ferris remarked, "Carrickfergus has a long, proud and genuine connection with the Royal Family… As we move to update the name of the road, many in our community feels it important to maintain that historic link but in a manner that reflects dignity, service and integrity." DUP councillor Marc Collins echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of community consultation, while TUV councillor Anna Henry described the proposal as "a sad and necessary motion" given the "serious cloud" hanging over Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Despite the consensus among councillors, the path forward is far from straightforward. The council’s interim chief executive, Valerie Watts, advised that there is currently no established policy for changing street names in the borough, and the process would require careful coordination with agencies such as Royal Mail and extensive consultation with residents. "Residents absolutely need to be consulted because it can have far reaching implications for them, such as changing your address for your bank account, credit cards, driver’s licence, utility bills etc, however it can be done and council do have the power to change street names," Watts told the chamber. She assured councillors that officers would conduct a full investigation and bring back a detailed report, including mechanisms for public consultation, before any final decision is made.
The street in question is home to approximately ten addresses, including both residences and businesses. For those who live or work there, the debate is more than symbolic—it will mean changing official documents, informing banks and utility companies, and adjusting to a new identity for their location. As Lisa, a local resident, put it, "It doesn't bother me if it stays as it is. It doesn't really bother me what it's called, but I can see why people would want to have it changed." Others, like Denise, expressed uncertainty about what the new name should be but agreed that "it would be nice to keep it in the Royal family," even suggesting Prince Edward Way as a possibility. Mr and Mrs Linton, also residents, suggested King’s Road, with Mrs Linton noting, "I don't mind them renaming it," and Mr Linton adding, "It'll not make much difference to us in the long run."
Among the suggestions for a new name, Queen Elizabeth Way and Princess Catherine Way have emerged as popular options, though councillors have made it clear that any decision will involve input from both the public and the Royal Household. "We want to have people's thoughts come in on that, but we also have to speak to the Royal household, because you can't just decide we're going to name this after a royal. There's a lot of process that needs to be followed there," Skinner explained to BBC News NI.
Even as the council moves forward, the debate in Carrickfergus reflects a broader reckoning with how public spaces commemorate individuals whose reputations have dramatically changed. The case of Prince Andrew Way is not unique—his name has already been removed from commemorative plaques in the Falklands, and the issue of renaming streets, buildings, and institutions once associated with disgraced figures has become increasingly common in the UK and beyond.
For Carrickfergus, the renaming of Prince Andrew Way is about more than a street sign. It is a conversation about values, history, and the responsibility of communities to reflect both in the names they choose to display. As council officers begin their investigation and residents prepare to have their say, the outcome will serve as a telling marker of how one town—and perhaps the country at large—navigates the delicate balance between tradition and accountability.
