Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, has had her “Freedom of the City of York” honor revoked through a unanimous decision. A special meeting was convened in the historic city to deliberate on withdrawing the honorary status bestowed upon her in 1987 during a visit. This recognition was granted to ‘Fergie’ when she was a newlywed, celebrating her marriage to the then Prince Andrew.
In 2022, the council also opted to strip her former husband of the same accolade, previously awarded to distinguished figures like Winston Churchill and Judi Dench. Last October, Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor relinquished all his royal titles following further disclosures and images linking him to Epstein. Consequently, his spouse ceased using the title ‘Duchess of York’ after Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor renounced his royal titles due to the scandal, vehemently refuting any misconduct allegations.
During the discussion, Liberal Democrat councilor Darryl Smalley remarked that recent revelations indicated Sarah Ferguson maintained a close relationship with Epstein, extending beyond his conviction. He emphasized the city’s expectation for recipients of its highest honor to uphold ethical standards and not associate with convicted criminals.
Gwen Swinburn, a member of the public, urged the council to remove Ms. Ferguson’s city freedom, emphasizing it as the minimum action warranted. Councillor Claire Douglas, the Labor group leader on the local council, stressed the importance of aligning with the values befitting the city’s honor, pointing out that continued connections with Epstein post-conviction fell short of these expectations.
Following the decision to strip Sarah Ferguson of her city honor, Councillor Claire Douglas reiterated that the move was necessary to preserve the integrity of the prestigious accolade. The decision was made to uphold the values associated with the Freedom of the City of York.
This development comes amidst escalating pressure on Sarah Ferguson due to her past ties with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender she once regarded as a close confidant. Controversy ensued after an unearthed 2011 email revealed her continued admiration for Epstein despite his criminal history. Several charities subsequently disassociated with her, with calls mounting for her to address her associations with Epstein.
US lawmakers have urged both Ferguson and her ex-husband to provide testimony regarding their links to Epstein. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam highlighted Ferguson’s potential relevance to the investigation and advocated for her sworn testimony before the House Oversight Committee. The family of Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre echoed these sentiments, urging Ferguson to travel to the US to answer inquiries.
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