The City of London Corporation is drafting a bill to strip Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of the Freedom of the City of London, a further humiliation for the former prince.
Process to remove honour
A Corporation spokesperson said: 'We understand why people want this matter resolved as quickly as possible, and we share that desire.' The move comes after the corporation said in March that the honour could not be removed.
Andrew was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2012 because his father, Prince Philip, was a Freeman. The spokesperson added: 'The fastest and most appropriate approach is to put in place a lawful process that allows the City Corporation to make these decisions itself, rather than seeking legislation through Parliament. We are progressing that work and, if elected members approve the new process, they will then be able to consider whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Freedom should be removed.'
Constitutional implications
Policy chair Deputy Chris Hayward said at a Court of Common Council meeting on July 23: 'The City Solicitor and the Remembrancer have both asked me to point out that this is a substantial piece of work with significant constitutional implications which need to be carefully considered by members, to ensure that the new process is, as far as possible, lawful and workable with no unintended consequences.'
Andrew was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released and has not been charged. The King's brother has been under intense scrutiny over his relationship with the deceased paedophile billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein. He has denied all wrongdoing.
Royal Lodge lease and subletting
Andrew's lease of Royal Lodge and his ability to sublet the estate's properties offered 'best value' when the arrangements were first put in place, MPs have been told. The Crown Estate faced a Commons committee hearing when its chief executive was quizzed on the former duke's accommodation. A National Audit Office investigation revealed last month that Andrew received an undisclosed private income from subletting three cottages on his Royal Lodge estate while paying a peppercorn rent for more than two decades.
Andrew, stripped of his titles over his links to Epstein, was forced to vacate his home and move into Marsh Farm on the King's Sandringham estate in Norfolk amid public outcry about the rent he paid. His leasehold agreement showed he paid £1 million for the lease and has paid 'one peppercorn' of rent per year, if demanded. He also paid £7.5 million for refurbishments completed in 2005.
