The City of London Corporation (CLC) has approved a process to remove Prince Andrew, Duke of York, of his Freedom of the City of London honor, stating his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is "wholly unacceptable." The decision follows Prince Andrew's refusal to voluntarily relinquish the title, despite requests from the CLC.
Elected members of the CLC's Court of Common Council voted to approve the new process, which grants the court the power to revoke the freedom. This move came after a legal review concluded there was no existing lawful mechanism to remove the honor. The CLC stated that each case will now be considered individually, following legal procedures and allowing the individual to make written representations before a final decision.
The process will now commence for Prince Andrew, with CLC officers instructed to pursue the lawful removal of the honor. This development follows a motion of censure passed by the CLC in May, expressing "profound disappointment" that the Duke of York had not surrendered his Freedom of the City of London. The motion also cited "utmost dismay" at his association with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and stated that the removal is consistent with decisions made by King Charles III and other bodies to strip him of offices and honors.
Prince Andrew inherited the Freedom of the City of London in 2012 by patrimony, as a son of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who received the honor in 1948. The Freedom is a ceremonial title, one of the City of London's ancient traditions dating back to at least 1237, historically allowing recipients to carry out their trade. It is now typically awarded to individuals for outstanding contributions to public life.
The CLC's policy chairman, Chris Hayward, emphasized that the new process ensures decisions are made fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the law. He added that the steps would be followed "as a matter of urgency" to reach a decision regarding Prince Andrew's honor.
Previously, Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal patronages and military titles by King Charles III in January 2022. He also settled a civil sexual assault lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual abuse when she was underage. Prince Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Investigations into his conduct, including allegations of sharing sensitive information with Epstein during his time as trade envoy, have also been conducted by Thames Valley Police.