London’s iconic Duke of York’s Theatre is set to be renamed, scrapping all association with the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Andrew, 66, was stripped of his York title last year over his connection to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with the theatre’s owner revealing the new name as a tribute to one of the “most influential playwrights in British theatre”.
ATG Entertainment has said that the renaming is a “lasting tribute” to playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, who died aged 88 in November. The theatre owners did not say that the new name is connected to Andrew or his involvement in the Epstein scandal.
The theatre, which was initially called the Trafalgar Square theatre, became the Duke of York’s in 1895, after the duke, who went on to become King George V.
It has been said that the renaming “felt like the right and natural way to keep him among us”, according to Andrew Rawlinson, ATG Entertainment’s business director in London.
He also added: “Sir Tom Stoppard gave the British theatre some of its most brilliant and best-loved work, and he did it with a wit and a humanity that audiences carried home with them.”
The late playwright’s four children have all welcomed the theatre’s name change.
Ollie, Barny, Will, and Ed Stoppard said: “The West End was close to his heart and we feel sure he would be thrilled and humbled in equal measure by this great honour.”
This is not the first name change for a landmark named after the former Duke of York. The Duke of York Stakes, a horse race run each year at York, is now called the Minster Stakes. The Duke of York pub at York station has become the Line and Whistle.
Councillors voted to change the name of Prince Andrew Way in Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland, whilst residents in Hellesdon, near Norwich, also raised concerns about Prince Andrew’s Road.
A picture of the former prince, which once hung over the Duke of York pub in central London, was also taken down last year.