Background on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Street Naming
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has lost his royal titles, status as prince, and residence at Royal Lodge due to his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Across the UK, institutions including golf clubs and local authorities have removed links to the former prince to distance themselves from the scandal.
However, one honour remains: a street named after him in Renfrewshire. Andrew Avenue is part of a group of streets named after the late Queen Elizabeth II's children, including Charles Avenue, Anne Avenue, and Edward Avenue.
Consultation on Renaming Andrew Avenue
Last year, Renfrewshire Council initiated a consultation on renaming Andrew Avenue, which comprises about 50 homes. The consultation followed concerns expressed by some residents about the street’s association with the former Duke of York. The street is believed to have been named in the late 1960s or early 1970s.
Despite this, many residents told BBC Scotland News that changing the street name would cause more inconvenience than benefit. Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Local Residents’ Perspectives
On a quiet Thursday morning, several locals expressed that the street’s connection to Andrew or the Royal Family had not been a consideration until recently.
"I've lived in Renfrew all my life, and it was never something I thought of here," said Yvonne Laidlaw. "These houses have just always been Andrew Avenue to me, you don't think of Prince Andrew just with that, so it doesn't bother me at all."
The consultation results reflected these views. Out of 52 households, 22 responded: 16 opposed renaming the street, 4 supported it, and 2 reported mixed opinions within their homes. The predominant concern was the cost and effort involved.
Karena Quaile commented on the practical difficulties, saying:
"There would be a lot of impact on us if the name changed - you're looking at switching driver's licences and things like that. I'm self-employed, so I'd be having to tell contractors about it - it would be a lot of hassle for no real gain, and I don't think people hear the street name and think of Prince Andrew."
Another resident, Norman Gerrie, who has lived on the street for seven years, shared similar sentiments after returning from walking his dog:
"I see where people are coming from about it, but I'd rather just remain Andrew Avenue. Just changing it for getting bills or anything like that would be inconvenient. Maybe it'd be different if the street was called Prince Andrew Avenue, but it's not, so it doesn't bother me."
Residents’ Views on the Former Prince and Local Priorities
While most residents expressed no sympathy for the former prince, who was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office and later released under investigation, they emphasized more immediate local concerns.
Some newer residents indicated they would not object to a name change but did not consider it a pressing issue. The consultation included comments such as the street name being "totally unacceptable if associated with the former prince," alongside questions about how a name change would affect official documents.
Council Response and Suggestions
Councillor John Shaw, who requested the consultation, spoke at the full council meeting, noting the issue arose from a resident’s concern. He stated:
"The residents have expressed clear views and I think from the outset, I believed, and I stated at the time, that this was likely to be the outcome given the potential inconvenience of a name change. But I also believed that the people who actually lived in the street deserved the opportunity to have their say."
Among the consultation responses, some suggested renaming the street after a flower rather than a person, or avoiding any association with Andrew altogether.
Others proposed simpler alternatives. Karena Quaile suggested:
"It would be easier to just name it after another Andrew, like St Andrew. Let's keep the name and associate it with a different Andrew."
Theresa Cunningham echoed this sentiment:
"We can just think of it as Andy Murray Avenue instead."
Additional reporting by Jack Thomson, Local Democracy Reporting Service.
