Calls to strip Prince Andrew of Duke of York title
Local MP says position is ‘untenable’ and association
with city must end in light of US sexual assault allegations
Prince Andrew’s Duke of York title has been described
as ‘untenable’.
Mark Brown
North of England correspondent
Fri 14 Jan
2022 10.38 GMT
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/14/calls-strip-prince-andrew-duke-of-york-title
Calls have
been made in York for Prince Andrew to relinquish his title of Duke of York,
with the city’s Labour MP calling it “untenable”.
The demand
by Rachael Maskell, the MP for York Central, echoed sentiments expressed by a
senior councillor, Darryl Smalley, who said the association was tarnishing the
city’s reputation.
Maskell
said: “It’s untenable for the Duke of York to cling on to his title another day
longer; this association with York must end. There’s a very serious allegation
made against this man of privilege and entitlement. I’m working with agencies
to tackle sexual violence and misogyny.”
Smalley, a
Liberal Democrat who is an executive member for culture, leisure and
communities on the city of York council, said it had been argued that Andrew
losing titles was important to protect the military.
“I think
the vast majority of people in York feel exactly the same in protecting the
reputation of the city.”
Smalley
said it might require an act of parliament to remove the title but that should
not stop it happening because of the shame being brought on Andrew as Duke of
York.
“York is
fantastic, we have got a lot to be proud of and one thing we don’t want is to
be so burdened with this link to Prince Andrew.”
Given the
cost of living crisis and the scandal over the Covid parties in Downing Street,
Smalley said he was not going to pretend that Prince Andrew was the number one
issue for residents of York.
“It is
important for us as councillors and city leaders that we raise these concerns,
just as servicemen and veterans did in their letter to the Queen.
“It’s our
duty really to make clear that we are very unhappy that despite him not using
titles such as ‘His Royal Highness’ he still somehow retains the title of Duke
of York. It seems strange to a lot of us here in York.”
Podcast:
"A royal mess: Prince Andrew faces a US trial"
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