Prince Andrew urged to relinquish City of London honour
Prince Andrew could face fresh pressure over a ceremonial honour after City of London officials agreed to contact him inviting him to step down from his Freedom of the City of London recognition. The latest development follows a review that found the honour, awarded through inheritance, cannot be removed through an effective legal process.
Yahoo Entertainment reported that the City of London Corporation plans to send a written request inviting Prince Andrew to formally relinquish the honour, after elected members agreed to seek a voluntary response and consider any reply at a future meeting.
According to the report, a City of London Corporation spokesperson said Prince Andrew received the freedom in 2012 “by virtue of patrimony”, which is inherited as the child of a freeman and constitutes “a legal right”. The spokesperson added that applications via patrimony are “not considered or endorsed” by elected members and that there is “no effective legal mechanism” to remove this type of freedom.
The report also cited an unnamed source as saying there is a “clear feeling” it is no longer appropriate for the Duke of York to continue to hold the honour, and that the request is aimed at limiting “reputational damage” to the institution. In recent months, Prince Andrew has remained under scrutiny after King Charles reportedly stripped Prince Andrew of final titles as part of a wider effort to distance the Royal Family from the Duke’s public role.
The Freedom of the City of London once carried practical trading privileges but is now largely symbolic, typically bestowed on those selected by the corporation’s councillors. Any decision on next steps is expected to depend on whether Prince Andrew responds to the invitation and what action elected members believe is possible thereafter.
