Prince Andrew should have given up Killyleagh title ‘a long ago’

Prince Andrew has given up his title of Baron Killyleagh which had been awarded to him by his mother, Elizabeth II, on his wedding day in 1986.

On Friday, Prince Andrew issued a personal statement saying that he would be relinquishing all of his royal titles, including the Duke of York.

He has been under increasing pressure over his links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

However, Jim Lindsay, who is chairman of Killyleagh Development Association, said he “probably should have given up the title Baron Killyleagh a long time ago”.

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

“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,” he said.

Prince Andrew first visited Killyleagh on the shores of Strangford Lough in 1986 shortly after his marriage to Sarah Ferguson, from whom he is now separated, when he was awarded the title Baron Killyleagh.

He 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.

He was also introduced to members of the town’s development association and funders of the regeneration project.

He was welcomed by Mr William J Hall, the then Lord-Lieutenant of County Down, then Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Iris Robinson, Nick Lindsay, Sheriff for County Down and Nigel Dodds who was also an MP at the time.

Jim Lindsay said that on that occasion he took Prince Andrew out on his boat onto Strangford Lough. The prince was also a former patron of Killyleagh Yacht Club.

Mr Lindsay said that he was also aware of a least one other visit to the town by Prince Andrew.

He added: “When I was awarded an MBE in 2022, Prince Andrew wrote to congratulate me.”

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.”

However, Mr Lindsay said he welcomed the prince’s decision to give up the title that associated him with Killyleagh.