Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been formally invited by local councillors to relinquish his inherited title of Freedom of the City of London.
The disgraced former prince received this honor in 2012, granted through patrimony, as his father, Prince Philip, was a Freeman. Despite ongoing calls for the title’s removal, the City of London Corporation (CLC) previously stated that this particular honor, which historically allowed recipients to walk sheep over London Bridge without a fee, cannot be rescinded.
A spokesperson for the CLC remarked, „Elected members have today agreed to write to Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor, inviting him to formally relinquish the Freedom.“ The CLC indicated that it would evaluate any response received at a future meeting to determine possible actions.
Furthermore, the spokesperson noted, „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.“
Historical Context of the Freedom Title
The Freedom of the City of London is one of the city’s ancient traditions, believed to have originated in 1237, allowing recipients to conduct their trade freely. Currently, the honor is awarded to individuals nominated by councillors, with notable recipients including Sir Lenny Henry and Cate Blanchett.
All of Andrew’s siblings, including King Charles, also hold the Freedom of the City of London.
Last year, King Charles stripped Andrew of his royal titles, styles, and honors following revelations about his connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Recent Developments and Public Scrutiny
In February, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after documents related to Epstein suggested he may have disclosed sensitive trade information. He was released after spending 11 hours in custody and has denied any wrongdoing.
This latest request from the CLC follows the recent loss of Sarah Ferguson’s Freedom of the City of York title in March, which was unanimously revoked by councillors due to her associations with Epstein. Ferguson and Andrew were granted this honor as a wedding gift from York in 1987.
In 2022, Andrew’s Freedom of the City of York was also removed, marking him as the first individual to have this honor taken away.
Implications of the Request
The invitation to voluntarily relinquish the Freedom of the City of London represents another public embarrassment for the former prince. The revocation of his official titles in October was intended as a significant public sanction, yet he has continued to face a series of humiliations since then.
His name, once prominently displayed on various buildings, military memorials, and schools throughout the UK and Commonwealth, has been removed or renamed in many instances. Notably, his name was taken off four plaques in the Falkland Islands, a location he returned from with pride as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot following the Falklands War in 1982.
It is unlikely that Andrew will publicly respond to this recent request to relinquish the Freedom of the City of London, further contributing to his isolation as a man stripped of his home, titles, and status.
Since relocating from Royal Lodge in Windsor in February, Mountbatten-Windsor has remained out of the public eye, now residing on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, with financial support from his elder brother, the King.
Despite these developments, he remains eighth in the line of succession to the throne. Any removal from this position would necessitate an Act of Parliament in the UK and the agreement of all 15 Commonwealth realms where the King serves as head of state. So far, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have expressed support for his removal.
