Former Duke of York Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faces further humiliation over York bridge plaque

The former Duke of York had already been stripped of the freedom of the city following revelations about his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Now councillors and residents are calling for a plaque on the city's Millennium Bridge to removed.

The silver plaque - which reads 'This plaque was unveiled by His Royal Highness The Duke of York, CVO, ADC’ - was unveiled by the disgraced royal at the opening of the bridge on May 29, 2001.

Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as trade envoy.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing.

Council chiefs are said to be currently weighing up options to either remove or change the text, but they have confirmed action will be taken.

One local said: "Don't waste money altering it."

Another said: "Rip it down and stick it in a skip."

The plaque - which is on the South Bank of the bridge - references the then Duke of York alongside City of York Council and the people behind the delivery of Millennium Bridge, which connects South Bank with Fulford.

It is understood that changes to the plaque would not be subject to planning requirements.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his freedom of the city of York by councillors in 2022.

The former royal was initially granted the honour as a wedding gift by councillors in February 1987.

Coun Darryl Smalley, who led the move to strip Mr Mountbatten-Windsor of the freedom of the city, said the plaque should be removed from Millennium Bridge.

"Obviously it [the Millennium Bridge plaque] should be removed," he said, adding: "We just need to expunge all record of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the city and we've done a pretty good job of that so far."

The Liberal Democrat councillor, who was culture and communities boss under the previous Liberal Democrat-Green council, said a plaque to the former Duke of York was removed from Haxby library when he was on the council' executive.

He said the plaque had been found during work to renovate the library and is "now covered in plasterboard".

The plaque marked the then Duke of York opening the Oaken Grove Community Centre, which houses the library, in 2005.

Meanwhile, some York organisations have also taken steps to distance themselves from the former duke.

York Racecourse has dropped the Duke of York title entirely from its race programme, renaming the 1895 Duke of York Stakes to the Minster Stakes.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor stepped down from his role as royal patron of York Racecourse in 2019 and was replaced by Queen Camilla in 2024.

The former duke also stepped down as royal patron of the York Minster Fund, a role he held for 15 years, in 2019.

Elsewhere, the Duke of York pub at York Railway station was renamed the Line and Whistle after a refurbishment announced last year.

Another pub bearing the Duke of York name has, however, said it will not be renamed when it reopens later this year.

City of York Council's deputy leader, Coun Pete Kilbane, said: "Residents have been clear about their wish to disassociate the city with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and this extends to any plaques located around the city.

"No definitive central record of all plaques exists so we welcome any contact from the public to help identify them.

"There is a planning process to follow where plaques are attached to listed buildings or structures whether it be to add, remove or alter, but we're not aware of any heritage plaques linked to this individual.

"On other structures we can make these changes more quickly and in a way that doesn't diminish the valued roles played by individuals, businesses and other organisations, such as those responsible for delivering the original Millennium Bridge vision."