York councillors have voted to strip Prince Andrew, Duke of York, of his freedom of the city and called to have his dukedom removed.
Liberal Democrat, Labour, Tory, Green and independent councillors voted unanimously for the motion at York Racecourse on Wednesday, with members of the public joining in the chorus of condemnation of the duke.
Many of those who spoke at the 30-minute meeting said they wanted Prince Andrew to relinquish his Duke of York title and remove what Labour councillor Aisling Musson called “his stain of an association with this city”.
“The Honorary Freedom of York is the highest honour we, as a city, can bestow on those who represent the very best of York," said Lib Dem Darryl Smalley, York councillor and proposer of the motion.
"The honour is held by many notable and accomplished people who carry it with pride and responsibly.
“Having been stripped of his military roles and royal patronages by the queen, we believe that it is right to remove all links that Prince Andrew still has with our great city.
“I was pleased to see councillors of all parties support this motion and make it clear that it is no longer appropriate for Prince Andrew to represent York and its residents."
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Prince Andrew, centre, at the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at Windsor Castle alongside Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Edward in April 2021. All photos: Getty Images -
US president Donald Trump and his wife Melania, alongside Prince Andrew at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey in 2019. -
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew arrive for the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May 2019. -
Princess Eugenie walks down the aisle with her father, Prince Andrew for her wedding to Jack Brooksbank at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in October 2018. -
Prince Andrew and Prince Charles attend the Order of the Garter Service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in June 2015. -
Queen Elizabeth II is presented The Gold Cup by Prince Andrew after her horse Estimate won during Ladies Day of Royal Ascot in 2013. -
Prince Andrew abseils down the Shard tower in London to raise money for charity in 2012. -
Prince Andrew, Sarah, Duchess of York and their daughter, Princess Beatrice, following her graduation ceremony at Goldsmiths College in 2011. -
Prince Andrew inspects the parade at The Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, in 2002, during the 138th Sovereign's Parade. -
Wearing a traditional Guatemalan ceremonial jacket, Prince Andrew turns on the tap inaugurating an irrigation system in Nevaj, Guatemala, in 2002. -
The wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey, London, in July 1986. -
Actors Michael Caine, Dudley Moore, singer Tom Jones and Prince Andrew, who is holding a cartoon of himself, attend a gala dinner to honour the prince by the British Olympic Association at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, in 1984. -
Prince Andrew visits the California Science Centre, Los Angeles, in 1984. -
Prince Andrew, Viscount Linley, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, celebrating the Queen Mother's 76th birthday in the grounds of Clarence House in London, in 1976. -
Queen Elizabeth II is pictured with her sons Prince Andrew, right, and Prince Edward as Prince Edward starts his first day at Heatherdown Preparatory School near Ascot in 1972. -
Prince Andrew attends a Battle Royal review of the troops of the Household Division at Long Valley, Aldershot, in 1971. -
Prince Andrew at the window of Buckingham Palace in London, in 1966.
The removal of the honorary title sends the message that the city of York stands with victims of abuse, Mr Smalley said.
“The next logical step is now for Prince Andrew to do the right thing and relinquish his Duke of York title,” he said.
Buckingham Palace and a representative for the Duke of York declined to comment.
The decision by councillors is the latest loss for Prince Andrew amid the fallout from a civil sex case against the royal.
In February he reached a settlement on the case with his accuser, Virginia Giuffre.
The dukedom was a gift from his mother on his wedding day in 1986 and was previously used by the Queen’s father, George VI.
In January, before the legal settlement, the Queen stripped Andrew of his honorary military roles and he gave up his HRH style.
The honorary military roles he returned to the Queen included Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, Honorary air commodore of RAF Lossiemouth, Colonel-in-chief of the Royal Irish Regiment and Colonel-in-chief of the Small Arms School Corps.
Prince Andrew was also stripped of the titles Commodore-in-chief of the Fleet Air Arm; Royal Colonel of the Royal Highland Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, Deputy colonel-in-chief of The Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeth’s Own), and Colonel-in-chief of the Yorkshire Regiment.
He is also no longer Colonel-in-chief of the Queen’s York Rangers (1st American Regiment), Colonel-in-chief of The Royal Highland Fusiliers Of Canada, Colonel-in-chief of the Royal New Zealand Army Logistic Regiment (The Duke of York’s Own), and Colonel-in-chief of the Princess Louise Fusiliers (in Nova Scotia, Canada).
In January, he gave up his honorary membership at the prestigious home of golf – the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in Fife.
The Queen’s second son made a rare public appearance at a Westminster Abbey service in March in memory of his father, the Duke of Edinburgh.
His central role in escorting the queen to the memorial service has raised the prospect of Prince Andrew putting in an appearance during the platinum jubilee weekend in June.
