Disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is facing the loss of one of his remaining honors after ignoring a request to relinquish it voluntarily. Although the King stripped him of all his royal titles in October following the Epstein files scandal, the former Duke of York managed to hold onto the Freedom of the City of London, which he inherited from his late father, Prince Philip.
The City of London Corporation, responsible for the Square Mile, initially believed it lacked the authority to revoke this honor and asked Prince Andrew to surrender it voluntarily. With no response from him, legal officials are now drafting a bill that would empower elected members to vote on its removal.
Prince Andrew was briefly detained earlier this year on suspicion of misconduct in public office but was not formally charged. He continues to deny any wrongdoing. The City of London Corporation is working on a process to facilitate the removal of the Freedom of the City of London when deemed necessary, acknowledging the current lack of a legal framework for such actions.
The Corporation expressed understanding for the urgency of resolving this matter and indicated that if the new process is approved by elected Members, they will decide on whether to revoke Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Freedom. This development follows a motion of censure passed against him in May due to his failure to comply with the Corporation’s request.
The Court of Common Council of the City Corporation criticized Prince Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein as incompatible with the responsibilities of a Freeman of the City of London. The Corporation emphasized its support for the victims of Epstein and all victims of sexual abuse.
The Freedom of the City of London, a symbolic role bestowed by Corporation councillors, dates back to 1237 and allows recipients to conduct trade activities. Notable recent honorees include Major Tim Peake and Sir Lenny Henry. Prince Andrew’s siblings, including the King, also hold this honor.
In 2022, Prince Andrew lost the freedom of York due to revelations about his ties to Epstein. Discussions are ongoing about legislation to remove him from the line of succession, pending the conclusion of the police investigation. This process would require parliamentary approval and consent from the Commonwealth realms, with several prime ministers expressing support for such a move.
