Lisburn and Castlereagh has strong connections to the Royal Family
Buckingham Palace has put the Northern Ireland legacy question of ‘Prince Andrew’ in the hands of local councils.
Public dedications in a number of districts include street names and a commemorative Irish Yew tree planted by the former ‘Duke of York’ marking Lisburn’s 400th anniversary.
King Charles III stripped his brother ‘Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’ of all his remaining titles following further revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
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An Irish Yew tree planted by the former Royal in 2009, grows on the grounds of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s civic centre, with its future now uncertain.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked the Royal Household if it had guidance on removing trees, plaques and streets signs associated with ‘Prince Andrew’.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “This would be a matter for local towns and councils.”
Virginia Giuffre, the woman who alleged that the then Prince Andrew had sex with her at Ghislaine Maxwell’s house when she was 17, died by suicide earlier this year
Ms Giuffre’s memoir book, Nobody’s Girl was officially released in the UK last month, giving more details of her allegations about Prince Andrew, which he has always denied.
The new citizen, Andrew Mountbatton Windsor will remain 8th in line to the British Royal Throne, with the UK Government saying it has no plans to introduce a new law for the line of succession.
Northern Ireland place names include, ‘Prince Andrew Way ‘in Carrickfergus, ‘Prince Andrew Gardens’ and adjoining ‘Prince Andrew Park’ in South Belfast; and ‘Prince Andrew Crescent’ in Co Tyrone.
Lisburn and Castlereagh has strong connections to the Royal Family, with the official Royal residence for Northern Ireland at Hillsborough Castle Co Down being granted royal status in 2021.
LCCC previously told the LDRS that it was waiting for “guidance” from the Northern Ireland Office on future of the tree plaque, but the NIO went on to clarify that it was a matter for the “Royal Household”.
The council has maintained that the tree itself would not be uprooted “inline with our sustainability strategy”.
All political parties, responding to a LDRS query, have called for a review of the ‘Duke of York’s’ legacy at Lagan Valley Island civic centre.
With the latest clarity from the King’s official residence at Buckingham Palace, the legacy of ‘Prince Andrew’ could be set for democratic debates in a number of council chambers.
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