The then-Duke of York opened Chase Farm Hospital, part of London’s Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust, in 2019 – but a plaque in the entrance hall marking the occasion is now to be removed
An NHS Trust will today remove a plaque commemorating the opening of a hospital by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the Mirror can reveal.
Chase Farm Hospital, part of London’s Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust, boasts a wall hanging unveiled by the then-Duke of York at a glittering ceremony in 2019. But after the King stripped his brother’s title as a prince last week, we can reveal the Trust has now taken the decision to remove the memorial tablet.
A spokesperson said: “Following the events of recent days and the changes to his status, the plaque at Chase Farm Hospital is being taken down. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor was removed as patron of the Royal Free London in 2022 and has had no association with our trust since then.” The news will come as another humiliating blow for Andrew, who has also been ordered to leave his Windsor residence, Royal Lodge.
At the opening of the £200 million hospital in May 2019, Andrew unveiled the plaque, helped staff bury a time capsule in the grounds and was taken on a guided tour of the new facilities.
He gloated at the time: “It is a huge pleasure to be here today, particularly as I am patron of the Royal Free London, and I am amazed at the speed at which this new hospital has been built. Hospitals are about increasing the likelihood of better patient outcomes and patient healthcare, and today I have been around this new hospital, met some of your staff, and it is clear that that intent is being delivered.”
In an article posted on her website, former-Conservative MP Theresa Villiers, who also attended the opening, added: “It is great to have such a prominent member of the Royal Family here to mark the formal opening of the new hospital. I have campaigned for many years to support Chase Farm Hospital and I am delighted that its future has been secured with this new building.”
Andrew spent decades in public life as a war hero and prince before suffering a major fall from grace over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
He later settled the case brought against him by Virginia Giuffre, a victim of sex trafficking and abuse by Epstein, who alleged Andrew sexually abused her when she was a teenager – something Andrew has consistently denied.
The disgraced royal had already returned some military titles and patronages and stopped using the title His Royal Highness in 2022, but lost his last remaining royal titles and privileges last week following months of pressure.
