The City of London Corporation Calls on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to Relinquish His Freedom Honour
The City of London Corporation has urged Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, to give up his Freedom of the City of London honour. This call comes amid growing scrutiny over his connections with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.
Elected members of the corporation have reportedly written to the 66-year-old royal, asking him to formally relinquish the ceremonial title. The Freedom of the City of London is a historic award that allows recipients to walk sheep across London Bridge, and it is typically given to individuals nominated by Corporation councillors.
Mountbatten-Windsor was awarded the honour in 2012 by virtue of patrimony, meaning it was inherited from his late father, Prince Philip, who was previously a Freeman of the City. However, the organisation had previously considered whether it could strip him of the title after an investigation last March. Ultimately, it was determined that the historic honour could not be removed due to the legal right of inheritance.
Despite this, the City of London Corporation has now renewed its call for Mountbatten-Windsor to surrender the title, citing his links to Epstein. A spokesperson for the organisation confirmed that elected members had written to the exiled royal and invited him to give up the honour. They added that any further action would depend on a response from Mountbatten-Windsor, which would then be considered at a future meeting.
The Freedom of the City of London is a rare and symbolic award, with notable recipients including comedian Sir Lenny Henry, actress Cate Blanchett, and musician Ronnie Wood. It is not typically granted through a formal application process, as it is often given by inheritance or nomination.
A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation stated: ‘Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received the Freedom of the City of London in 2012 by virtue of patrimony, which is inherited as the child of a Freeman and constitutes a legal right. 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. Elected Members have today agreed to write to Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, inviting him to formally relinquish the Freedom. They will consider the response received, if any, at a future meeting and determine what action may be taken.’
This development follows King Charles III’s decision to begin the formal process of stripping Mountbatten-Windsor of his royal titles, styles, and honours. The move came after intensified scrutiny over his association with Epstein, who was found guilty of sex trafficking and other crimes.
Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office after allegations surfaced that he shared sensitive information with Epstein while serving as a trade envoy. The case gained further attention when millions of documents, known as the Epstein files, were released by the US Department of Justice. These documents included correspondence suggesting that he may have shared confidential trade information.
The former duke was held in custody for 11 hours before being released under investigation. Despite the allegations, Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He remains eighth in line to the British throne.
As the situation continues to unfold, the City of London Corporation’s latest appeal adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing debate over the former royal’s standing and legacy.
