The City of London Corporation has written to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor asking him to give up his Freedom of the City, the latest in a series of honours stripped from or withdrawn around the disgraced former prince.
Councillors voted to invite him to relinquish the title voluntarily — an approach forced by the fact that, under existing rules, this particular category of Freedom cannot be revoked. Andrew received the honour in 2012 not through nomination but “by virtue of patrimony”, an automatic entitlement arising from his father Prince Philip’s status as a Freeman.
Why the Corporation cannot simply remove it
Unlike honours conferred by elected members, patrimonial Freedoms carry no formal mechanism for withdrawal. A Corporation spokesperson confirmed that applications granted through family lineage are neither considered nor endorsed by councillors, leaving the body with no direct legal power to strip the title. The Corporation said it would “consider the response received, if any, at a future meeting and determine what action may be taken”.
The Freedom of the City of London is one of the capital’s oldest traditions, thought to date back to 1237, when it entitled holders to practise their trade within the Square Mile. In modern times the honour is largely ceremonial — its most celebrated perk being the right to drive sheep across London Bridge — and is now typically bestowed on public figures nominated by councillors. Recipients in recent years include Sir Lenny Henry and Cate Blanchett. All of Andrew’s siblings, including King Charles, also hold the Freedom.
A deepening fall from public life
Andrew was stripped of his royal titles, styles and military honours by the King last year as further details emerged of his association with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In February he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after correspondence contained in the Epstein Files suggested he may have passed on sensitive trade information. He was held in custody for 11 hours before being released under investigation. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The Corporation’s move follows a decision by the City of York, which voted unanimously in March to remove the Freedom it had granted to Sarah Ferguson over her own links to Epstein. She and Andrew had received the York honour as a wedding gift during a visit to the city in 1987. Andrew himself lost his York Freedom in 2022, reportedly becoming the first person ever to have it taken away.
