When it rains, it pours – and for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor it’s a self-inflicted monsoon of misery. If he hadn’t had it coming after his dreadful behaviour over the last few decades ‘one’ could almost feel sorry for him. But I don’t.
The regal chopper – no, that’s not another nickname for ‘Randy Andy‘ – has hefted its axe already on Andrew’s titles, cleaving him of being a prince, the Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Baron Killyleagh, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and his ceremonial knighthoods. With an ego the size of the Hindenburg, Andrew will feel not so much deflated as irrevocably crushed.
Now we all know that Andrew feared his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein would see him erased off the UK landscape – but no-one thought it would happen literally.
So to add more salt to his already heavily seasoned wounds, councillors have voted to change the name of a road called Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus, County Antrim.
It was named to mark Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s marriage to Sarah Ferguson in 1986 and a small number of homes are situated on the street, as well as some businesses.
The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland brought forward a motion asking the council to rename the road while also trying to maintain the town’s “important link to the Royal Family”.
Councillor Lauren Gray said: “While Queen Elizabeth II would be a fitting tribute to the late monarch, we would ask officers to bring back a report that includes a mechanism for a public consultation to ensure the people of Carrickfergus have their say.”
The motion was seconded by her party colleague councillor Aaron Skinner who said he has “spoken with many residents who feel deeply uneasy about continuing to honour Andrew Mountbatten in this way”.
“There is a strong belief that he no longer reflects the values of our community.”
It’s no small feat, changing the name of a road, when you think about it.
It has far-reaching implications for the street’s residents – changing address for bank accounts, driver licences and utility bills. It would be a royal pain in the derriere.
But Ulster Unionist Party councillor Bethany Ferris used words like a stiletto dagger as she stressed: “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 feel it important to maintain that historic link but in a manner that reflects dignity, service and integrity.”
Ouch! “Dignity, service and integrity”. Not three words readily associated with Andrew.
Councillor Aaron Skinner told 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.”
He said “there are lots of ideas”, including Princess Catherine Way and Queen Elizabeth Way”.
The former is why the Royal Family needs to distance themselves as much from Andrew and Sarah Ferguson – she who dubbed Epstein her “supreme friend” – as possible, and move on with William and Catherine.
Could you imagine Andrew being in remission with cancer as Catherine was, scared about your future and still trying to fulfil public engagements as she did, to not let her country down?
No. Because Andrew has always thought only of himself – that’s why his name will be wiped off the map of this nation, street sign by street sign.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
