The commemorative shrub was planted by Prince Andrew in Lisburn in September 2009
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) has washed its hands of the fate of an Irish Yew tree planted by disgraced royal Andrew Mountbatten Windsor to mark Lisburn’s 400th anniversary.
All political parties have called for a review of his legacy at Lagan Valley Island civic centre, due to intense scrutiny of links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The King stripped his younger brother of his Prince and Duke of York titles last week.
On Sunday, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed Andrew would be stripped of his honorary rank of vice-admiral, which he was awarded on his 55th birthday in 2015.
The rank was his last remaining honorary military title since he handed back the others in 2022 over the Epstein scandal.
The former prince denies sexually assaulting the late Virginia Giuffre, who alleged this happened on three occasions, including when she was 17, after being trafficked by Epstein.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that it had asked the NIO for “guidance” on the potential removal of a plaque attached to the tree on its grounds.
However, a spokesperson for the NIO told LDRS: “This is a matter for the Royal Household.”
The council has maintained that the tree itself would not be uprooted “in line with our sustainability strategy”.
Lisburn and Castlereagh has long-standing links to the Royal Family. Hillsborough Castle in Co Down, the official royal residence in Northern Ireland, was granted royal status in 2021.
Andrew will remain 8th in line to the British Royal Throne, with the UK Government saying (Oct 31) it has no plans to introduce a new law for the line of succession.
It is understood that any advice from the Royal Household could also affect other public dedications of the former Prince Andrew across Northern Ireland, including street names.
Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.