Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been formally invited by the City of London Corporation to relinquish his inherited Freedom of the City honour, six months after being stripped of his royal titles by the monarchy.
The invitation, issued on Thursday 16 April 2026, follows mounting pressure on the Corporation to act over the Duke of York’s continued association with Jeffrey Epstein, despite his longstanding denials of wrongdoing.
<!– wp:paragraph >The Freedom was granted to him in 2012 by patrimony, meaning it was inherited because his father, Prince Philip, was a Freeman of the City — a legal right that cannot be revoked unilaterally by the Corporation.
/wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:paragraph >In a statement, a spokesperson confirmed: “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.”
/wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:paragraph >Elected members have agreed to write to him inviting formal relinquishment, with any response to be reviewed at a future meeting before deciding on further action.
/wp:paragraph –>The honour’s medieval origins contrast with its modern symbolic role
<!– wp:paragraph >The Freedom of the City of London is believed to date back to the 11th century, originally signifying freedom from feudal lordship and the right to trade within the Square Mile.
/wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:paragraph >Historically, it allowed holders to carry out trades such as walking sheep over London Bridge without toll — a privilege now entirely ceremonial.
/wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:paragraph >Today, the honour is typically awarded to individuals nominated by councillors, with recipients including Sir Lenny Henry and Cate Blanchett, and is held by all of Andrew’s siblings, including King Charles III.
/wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:heading >Andrew’s York Freedom was removed in 2022 over Epstein links
/wp:heading –> <!– wp:paragraph >The Corporation’s move comes after Sarah Ferguson lost her Freedom of the City of York in March 2026, following a unanimous vote by councillors over her ties to Epstein.
/wp:paragraph >Andrew had previously lost his York Freedom in 2022, becoming the first person ever to have that honour removed, with the meeting noting his association with the financier.
/wp:paragraph >If he agrees to relinquish the London title, it would add to a growing list of honours he has surrendered due to the Epstein fallout.
/wp:paragraph > wp:heading >The letter marks another step in his institutional isolation
/wp:heading > wp:paragraph >The invitation arrives six months after the Royal Family removed all of Andrew’s remaining royal titles, leaving the Freedom of the City as one of his few remaining official honours.
City AM noted the timing underscores the growing estrangement between Andrew and British institutions, following his February 2026 arrest for questioning over suspected misconduct in public office linked to the Epstein files.
/wp:paragraph >He has consistently denied allegations that he shared commercially sensitive information with Epstein whereas serving as a UK trade envoy.
/wp:paragraph > wp:html –>What happens next depends on Andrew’s response
/wp:heading > wp:paragraph >The Corporation emphasized that it cannot strip the honour against his will due to its patrimonial nature, leaving the decision to relinquish entirely in his hands.
/wp:paragraph >Any response he provides will be evaluated at a future meeting, where officials will determine whether further steps — such as seeking legal advice or public commentary — are warranted.
/wp:paragraph > wp:heading >Why can’t the City of London Corporation simply remove Andrew’s Freedom?
/wp:heading > wp:paragraph >Because he received it by patrimony — inherited from his father Prince Philip — which the Corporation states constitutes a legal right with no effective mechanism for revocation.
/wp:paragraph > wp:heading >Has Andrew lost other honours due to his Epstein association?
/wp:heading > wp:paragraph >Yes, he was stripped of his royal titles by the King six months prior and lost his Freedom of the City of York in 2022, with Sarah Ferguson losing hers in March 2026.
/wp:paragraph >–>