Prince Andrew’s ‘values don’t align with those of people in the district’

Prince Andrew’s ‘values don’t align with those of people in the district’

22 October 2025

LOCAL representatives have reacted to news that Prince Andrew has given up his title of Baron Killyleagh. 

The Prince issued a personal statement last Friday stating that he would be relinquishing all of his royal titles, including the Duke of York. He had been under increasing pressure to do so over his links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In his statement, the Prince said he continued to “vigorously deny the accusations against me”.

The title of Baron Killyleagh was awarded to Prince Andrew by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, on his wedding day in 1986. He first visited Killyleagh shortly after his marriage to Sarah Ferguson, from whom he is now separated.

Prince Andrew visited again in 2002 to unveil a statue of Sir Hans Sloane, who founded the British Museum and who was born in Killyleagh in 1660. During his visit, he was introduced to members of the town’s development association and funders of the regeneration project.

The Prince was welcomed by Mr William J Hall, the then Lord-Lieutenant of County Down, former DUP MP Iris Robinson, Nick Lindsay, Sheriff for County Down and Nigel Dodds, who was also an MP at the time.

On that occasion, Killyleagh Development Association chairman Jim Lindsay, took the Prince – a former patron of Killyleagh Yacht Club – out on his boat on Strangford Lough.

Despite the recent controversies surrounding Prince Andrew, Mr Lindsay said that he had not heard any discussion in Killyleagh.

“There has never been any talk about it or any suggestion that it was damaging to the town,” he said.

However, Mr Lindsay said he welcomed the Prince’s decision to give up the title that associated him with Killyleagh, saying he probably should have given it up a “a long time ago”.

Rowallane SDLP councillor Terry Andrews said his party will be supporting moves to strip Prince Andrew of his titles through the House of Commons.

“His values certainly do not align with those of the people in the district,” he said.

Fellow Rowallane councillor Callum Bowsie (DUP), said the next holder of the title shouldn’t necessarily be another member of the Royal family. 

“People in Killyleagh were very proud of their village being used to create a new Royal title in 1986,” he said.

“As the title has now been relinquished, perhaps it could be given to someone else and continue to be used to promote Killyleagh and its longstanding royal connection going back hundreds of years.”

Cllr Bowsie continued: “It doesn’t have to be another Royal. Historically, a baron was a local nobleman who held land for the monarch. However, in modern times, it has also been bestowed on influential figures in business or the public sector.

“For example, Baron Crossgar, was given to Sir Robert Lowry, the former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland. So maybe suggestions could be put forward for the title to be given to someone from Killyleagh who has made a positive contribution to this part of the Commonwealth,”

In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, Prince Andrew said: “In discussion with the King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family.

“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.”

Andrew will remain a Prince, which he has been entitled to since birth, and is still eighth in line of succession, and the change will not affect his daughters, who will remain Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.