Prince Andrew Formally Asked to Relinquish London Freedom Honour
Elected members of the City of London Corporation have agreed to formally invite Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to relinquish his Freedom of the City of London. This ancient honour, which was granted to him in 2012, was received through patrimony, as his father, Prince Philip, was also a freeman.
Corporation Statement on the Invitation
In a statement released on Thursday, a spokesperson for the City of London Corporation clarified the situation. "Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received the freedom of the City of London in 2012 by virtue of patrimony, which is inherited as the child of a freeman and constitutes a legal right," the statement read.
The spokesperson further explained, "Applications via patrimony are not considered or endorsed by our elected members, and there is no effective legal mechanism to remove this type of freedom. Elected members have today agreed to write to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, inviting him to formally relinquish the freedom. They will consider the response received, if any, at a future meeting and determine what action may be taken."
Historical Context and Traditions
The Freedom of the City is one of London's most ancient traditions, believed to have begun in 1237. Originally, it enabled recipients to carry out their trade within the city walls. Today, it is typically awarded to individuals nominated by corporation councillors, with notable recipients including Sir Lenny Henry and Cate Blanchett.
All of Andrew's siblings, including King Charles III, also hold the freedom of the city of London, highlighting the familial nature of this honour when acquired through patrimony.
Recent Precedents and Broader Implications
This announcement follows a series of similar actions against Andrew and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson. In March, Ferguson lost her freedom of the city of York title after councillors voted unanimously to remove the honour due to her links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Both Andrew and Sarah were granted the York honour as a wedding present in 1987 during a visit to the city. Andrew's freedom of the city of York was removed in 2022, making him the first person ever to have the honour taken away in that city's history.
If Andrew agrees to relinquish the London honour, it will mark another significant loss in a string of titles he has forfeited over his association with Epstein. This move underscores the ongoing repercussions of his ties to the disgraced financier and reflects broader public and institutional scrutiny.
The City of London Corporation's decision to issue a formal invitation rather than enforce removal highlights the legal complexities surrounding patrimonial freedoms, setting a precedent for how such honours might be addressed in the future.
