Council members, representing all the major parties, voted in favor of the removal of the gift, which was given to him as a wedding gift by the city in 1987. Liberal Democrat Darryl Smalley, executive member of the York City Council for Culture, Leisure and Communities and rapporteur for the proposal, said: most suitable for Prince Andrew to represent York and its people. “The removal of this honorary title sends the right message that as a city we stand with victims of abuse.” Some city councilors and members of the public who spoke at the meeting at the York Racecourse also called on either the Queen or the government to remove Andrew from the title of Duke of York. Labor councilor Eisling Muson said she wanted to remove “this stain of a relationship with this city”. Mr Smalley added: “The next sensible step now is for Prince Andrew to do the right thing and relinquish the title of Duke of York. “If he fails to do so, the government and Buckingham Palace must intervene to remove his title in order to finally end Prince Andrew’s connection to York.” Andrew, 62, agreed to settle Giuffre’s civil lawsuit, which accused him of sexually abusing her as a teenager. He denied the allegations. Read more: What military roles has Andrew lost – and what else could he bring back? Andrew is the first person to be deprived of the city’s freedom, city councilors said. There were two formal abstentions – from the Lord Mayor and the elected Lord Mayor. Both Buckingham Palace and a spokesman for the duke declined to comment.
