Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor could lose his Freedom of the City of London after declining to surrender it. The City of London Corporation has now approved a process that could strip him of the honor. Until now, the corporation said it had no effective legal way to remove the honor.
On September 10, however, the Court of Common Council approved an act creating a lawful process for removing a person’s Freedom. According to the BBC, Chris Hayward, the corporation’s policy chairman, said, “Today, we have approved a lawful and effective process for considering whether the Freedom of the City of London should be removed from an individual.”
He added, “This ensures that future decisions are taken fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the law, with appropriate safeguards in place for all parties involved. The process will now be followed as a matter of urgency to ensure that a decision is made in relation to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Freedom.”
The proposal is expected to return to the Court of Common Council in December. The latest move follows a formal censure in May. On April 16, the Corporation’s Policy and Resources Committee considered the matter. The Chamberlain and the City Remembrancer then wrote to Andrew. They asked him to relinquish his Freedom of the City of London formally.
On May 21, the Court of Common Council passed a motion of censure against Andrew. The court said there was “profound disappointment” that Andrew had “not surrendered his Freedom despite being asked to do so.”
The court also condemned his links to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Its full motion said, “The Court of Common Council notes with the utmost dismay Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s association with the convicted p–edophile, the late Jeffrey Epstein, and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.”
It added, “Whilst it recognises that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor maintains that he has done nothing wrong, it nevertheless considers that his well-publicised association with Epstein is wholly unacceptable and inconsistent with his status and obligations as a Freeman of the City of London.”
The court further stated, “In the circumstances, and in solidarity with Epstein’s victims and survivors, the court wishes to remove Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s Freedom consistent with decisions already taken by His Majesty the King and other military and civil bodies to strip him of his offices and honours.”
At the time, the Corporation said it had no effective legal mechanism to remove Andrew’s Freedom. It was not an honor or office but a property right. The court nevertheless instructed officers to pursue the steps needed to remove it lawfully.
The Corporation said its thoughts “remain firmly with the victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and all victims of s–xual abuse and exploitation.” Andrew received his Freedom in 2012 through patrimony because he was the child of a Freeman. His father, Prince Philip, received Freedom in 1948.
The Freedom dates back to 1237. It was originally linked to a person’s ability to carry out their trade in the City. Today, Corporation councillors can nominate recipients. People can also apply for it or inherit it through patrimony. They can also receive it for their contribution to London or public life.
