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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been asked by City of London councillors to voluntarily give up his inherited Freedom of the City of London. He originally received this honour in 2012 through patrimony, as his father, Prince Philip, was a Freeman. A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation (CLC) explained that elected officials have decided to invite Mountbatten-Windsor to formally renounce the Freedom. The CLC will review any response he provides before deciding on potential next steps.
The Freedom of the City of London is an ancient recognition dating back to 1237, initially granting recipients the right to conduct their trade within the city. Today, the honour is awarded to individuals nominated by councillors, with notable recipients including Sir Lenny Henry and Cate Blanchett. Andrew’s siblings, including the current King, also hold this Freedom. However, unlike new awards, those granted through patrimony are not approved by elected members, and there is no straightforward legal procedure to revoke such honours.
The former prince lost his royal titles, styles, and honours last year after new revelations about his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein surfaced. Earlier this year, Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to allegations from the Epstein Files concerning the possible transfer of sensitive trade information. After spending 11 hours in police custody, he was released under investigation and continues to deny any wrongdoing. Earlier, the city of York revoked his Freedom in 2022, marking the first time the city had ever withdrawn this distinction.
This request for Andrew to surrender the Freedom of the City of London adds to a series of public setbacks that have followed the removal of his titles last October. His name has been stripped from many UK and Commonwealth buildings, schools, military memorials, and plaques, including those in the Falklands, where he was celebrated as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot during the 1982 conflict. Currently, Mountbatten-Windsor lives quietly on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, privately funded by his elder brother, the King, and remains eighth in line to the throne. Any attempt to remove him from the succession would require legislation passed by the UK Parliament as well as the consent of all 15 Commonwealth realms where the monarch serves as head of state. So far, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have expressed support for his removal
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