Support for Andrew street name change, but with royal caveat

There is a Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus, County Antrim

People in Northern Ireland have backed the decision to remove royal titles from Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

A number of those interviewed by BBC News NI on Friday, said they would support street signs named after Andrew being removed, suggesting other royal names could be included in their replacement.

However, there have also been concerns raised about the potential cost and disruption of any move on street signs.

The King has "initiated a formal process" to remove Prince Andrew's titles and he will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday.

In Carrickfergus, Elaine McFarland said she supported a changing of the street name, but had concerns about cost and how businesses might be affected

Andrew's association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has created difficulties for the Royal Family, but he has always strongly denied any wrongdoing.

Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, is among the streets in Northern Ireland named after the royal.

The public in Carrickfergus gave their views on whether the street sign should now be changed.

Elaine McFarland said now "is the time to get it changed", but was concerned the public might have to pay for it.

"Would there be a cost incurred to people living in the area?

"There are businesses off the Prince Andrew Way that would maybe have to change a lot of literature, but I would be in favour of getting it changed but obviously not if there is a cost then to the local residents."

Ann McKeown suggested changing Prince Andrew Way to Prince George Way

Ann McKeown said there are "mixed feelings here", but her "own feeling is yes I would like to see it come down - maybe change it to Prince George Way".

Meanwhile, Andrew Crawford said it should be changed to "Prince George Way, keep the royal heritage".

Earlier this month, Andrew issued a personal statement saying he would be relinquishing all of his royal titles, including the Duke of York.

This included his title of Baron Killyleagh which had been awarded to him by his mother, Elizabeth II, on his wedding day in 1986.

It followed the re-emergence of emails from 2011, showing Andrew in contact with Epstein months after he claimed their friendship ended.

Prince Andrew has faced growing pressure over his links with Jeffrey Epstein

'Let's honour victims'

US lawyer Gloria Allred has represented 27 survivors of Jeffrey Epstein

Veteran US women's rights lawyer Gloria Allred has represented 27 survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and has called for the street names to be changed.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme she said "let's not honour anyone who is accused of a sex crime, even if he denies it".

"Especially Prince Andrew Way, because we don't like his way of doing things and the people he associated with," Ms Allred said.

Ms Allred explained that in the United States of America they have honoured victims by naming park benches after them.

"Let's honour victims and I think that's also a measure of justice in reference to the person formerly known as Prince Andrew."

'Needs to be renamed'

Alliance councillor Aaron Skinner said Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus "needs to be renamed"

The Alliance Party has a motion before Mid and East Antrim Council proposing the renaming of Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus.

Its councillor Aaron Skinner said they have "had a lot of people contacting us asking for the street to be renamed".

"We think it's important we keep our royal heritage and are proposing renaming it after Queen Elizabeth."

There are similar street names in south Belfast, including Prince Andrew Park and Prince Andrew Gardens.

In County Tyrone, there is a Prince Andrew Crescent in Moygashel - the sign for which has been defaced in the past.

Changing street names 'a bit ridiculous'

Philip Stevenson from Belfast said he agreed with the decision to remove Andrew's royal titles

BBC News NI also gauged the views of people in Belfast city centre on Friday about the decision to remove Andrew's royal titles.

Philip Stevenson from Belfast said he agreed with the move.

"Prince Andrew has been all over the news for all the wrong reasons and affecting all the rest of the good work the Royal Family do, in my opinion."

However, when asked if street signs in honour of Andrew should be changed, Mr Stevenson said without a conviction that was "a bit ridiculous".

"He is disgraced… but spending public money doing all of that when there's lots of other things in Northern Ireland that need fixed?"

Jeanette Clingen from Crumlin, County Antrim, also agreed that Andrew should no longer be called a prince, but was not in favour of street signs being removed

Jeanette Clingen from Crumlin, County Antrim, also agreed that Andrew should no longer be called a prince.

"Other people would step down from their roles if they were accused of something."

But asked if his name should be stripped from local street signs, Ms Clingen was not in favour.

"No, because if that was the case you would have to do that with so many names and so many people and I don't think that's necessary," she said.

Student Evie Connor from Brighton is studying in Belfast and agreed Andrew should be stripped of his title.

In terms of whether or not street signs should be removed, Ms Connor said that decision should be made by councils, but it was something she would personally like to see.

"I think that if he's having his title taken away from him then he should not really be commemorated."

Hanora Hannigan from Cork supported the stripping of Andrew's title of prince, but said the removal of street signs would require "a lot of structural change"

Hanora Hannigan from Cork was visiting a rainy Belfast on holiday.

"I think it's right that his title has been stripped off him," she told BBC News NI.

"I just think that having that title as prince is an honour really, and I think he has abused that."

Asked if streets named in his honour should be changed, Ms Hannigan said she did not know as that would require "a lot of structural change".

"I think the people of Belfast should decide that," she said.

Christian McNally from Belfast said he would like to a see a change of address for local streets which have "Prince Andrew" in their name.

"Why have it? I don't think it really holds any value to have that, I don't think it would make such a difference to change it."

Virginia Giuffre pictured alongside Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell

As well as giving up all his titles, Andrew will also leave his Royal Lodge home close to Windsor Castle, moving to private accommodation which is understood to be a property on the private Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

In a statement on Thursday, Buckingham Palace said: "Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse."

A posthumous memoir by Virginia Giuffre, who is not represented by Allred, repeated allegations that, as a teenager, she had sex with Andrew on three separate occasions – claims he has always denied.