‘Prince Andrew Island’ in Canada to be renamed after royal’s arrest
Prince Andrew Island on the Otonabee River in Ontario will be renamed following Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office
Prince Andrew Island in Canada is set to be renamed(Image: Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
An island in Canada, previously named after the now-disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor before he was stripped of his titles and honours, is set to be renamed following the royal’s arrest on Thursday. Prince Andrew Island, situated on the Otonabee River in Ontario, lies adjacent to Gordonstoun Island, which is named after the Scottish boarding school attended by Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, King Charles and Prince Philip.
Sherry Senis, the mayor of Selwyn Township where the islands are located, stated: “Selwyn Council has directed staff to explore the formal process required to rename Prince Andrew and Gordonstoun islands that are located in Selwyn Township.”
The renaming procedure for the rivers is anticipated to take several months. It necessitates submitting a formal application to the Ontario Geographic Naming Board. The local Ojibwa community, Curve Lake First Nation, will be consulted about the potential name change next week.
Several streets in Canada also bear the name of the former prince, including Prince Andrew Drive, a meandering road in a semi-rural neighbourhood in Caledon, within the Greater Toronto Area, reports the Express.
The Town of Caledon said in a statement: “While we are aware of the recent arrest of former Prince Andrew and the concerns it may raise within the community, any reconsideration of a municipal street name would require a formal review process and public feedback.”
The former prince spent six months in 1977 residing in Canada, where he attended Lakefield College School. Following his departure, he continued his connection with the private boarding school, serving as a trustee and honorary chair of its foundation, positions that concluded several years ago.
On Thursday, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office and taken to a Norfolk police station for questioning.
King Charles’s brother was released under investigation by Thames Valley Police on Thursday evening, after spending much of his 66th birthday in custody.
The detention followed Thames Valley Police announcing it was examining a complaint regarding the alleged sharing of confidential material by the former prince with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
He has consistently and strenuously denied any wrongdoing. Buckingham Palace has previously said it would support Thames Valley Police in their inquiries.
