A councillor in the English city of York has floated a demand for Prince Andrew to lose his aristocratic title of 'Duke of York', as he faces civil action over allegations of rape and sexual abuse of minors in the US.
Darryl Smalley, the executive of the ruling Liberal-Democrat group on the city's council for culture, leisure and communities, launched his campaign with the social media hashtag #NotInYorksName on Thursday.
The launch occurred after Queen Elizabeth II stripped her second son of most of his titles and rank, including the style 'his royal highness' while he defends himself in a New York court from his accuser, Virginia Giuffre.
It is "untenable for the Duke of York to cling onto his title another day longer," Smalley said.
"I think the vast majority of people in York feel exactly the same in protecting the reputation of the city," Smalley stated, adding that, "no one is above the law and all allegations should rightly be fully investigated, particularly following the recent distressing court cases."
"I think many, many people in the city really are quite aggrieved that whilst many of his titles have been removed — those that associated to the military and another organizations the ones that actually ties a whole city with a population of 200,000 are what is retained," the councillor told the Mail Online.
Smalley admitted to Sky News that there was not "unanimous" support on the council for the move.
"There have been calls that we're looking at as to whether the whole council should attempt to pass the resolution," he said. "We're not not there yet, but it's something we're looking into."
"Ultimately this is really a decision [for] himself, for the Royal household and Parliament. Parliament have powers in relation to removing titles."
Labour York Central MP Rachael Maskell backed Smalley's campaign in a tweet.
The title of Duke of York has been held by several who ascended to the throne themselves after the death or abdication of an elder brother, including Henry VIII, Charles I, James II, and the father of Queen Elizabeth II, George VI.