Andrew refuses to give up freedom of the City of London
Andrew refuses to give up freedom of the City of London
Telegraph reportersThu, May 21, 2026 at 9:18 PM UTC
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The City’s court of common council said there was ‘profound disappointment’ that the former Duke of York had not relinquished his freedom - Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Photo
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been censured for failing to surrender his freedom of the City of London, “despite being asked to do so”.
The City of London Corporation passed a motion of censure – a formal expression of disapproval – against the former prince on Thursday after he failed to respond to its letter inviting him to relinquish his freedom of the city.
The City Corporation’s court of common council said it considered his association with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted paedophile, to be “wholly unacceptable and inconsistent” with the status and obligations of a freeman of the City of London.
In its motion of censure, the court said there was “profound disappointment” Mr Mountbatten-Windsor had “not surrendered his freedom despite being asked to do so”.
‘Utmost dismay’
The City Corporation’s highest decision-making body said it lacked the power to remove Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s freedom because the honour was hereditary.
The former prince received the honour in 2012 “by virtue of patrimony”, because his father, Prince Philip, had been a freeman.
After a review in March, the corporation concluded that, it could not strip Mr Mountbatten-Windsor of the honour for this reason.
The court said it had instructed officers to commence proceedings to enable it to “lawfully remove the freedom of the City from Andrew”.
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In its full motion, the court said: “The court of Common Council notes with the utmost dismay Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s association with the convicted paedophile, the late Jeffrey Epstein, and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.
“Whilst it recognises that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor maintains that he has done nothing wrong, it nevertheless considers that his well-publicised association with Epstein is wholly unacceptable and inconsistent with his status and obligations as a freeman of the City of London.
“In the circumstances, and in solidarity with Epstein’s victims and survivors, the court wishes to remove Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s freedom consistent with decisions already taken by His Majesty the King and other military and civil bodies to strip him of his offices and honours.”
The City Corporation said its thoughts “remain firmly with the victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and all victims of sexual abuse and exploitation”.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February, on his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.
He was stripped by the King of both his right to be a prince and his dukedom late last year over his association with Epstein.
In March, Sarah Ferguson lost her honorary freedom of the City of York over her links to the convicted paedophile.
The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile.
One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, the freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enables recipients to carry out their trade.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
