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Next step taken to strip Andrew of final honour as ex-Duke fails to respond
Reach Daily Express | May 13, 2026 7:40 PM CST

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor failed to respond to a request to relinquish a historic honour. The former Duke of York, who received the Freedom of the City of London in 2012, was asked by the City of London to relinquish the honour via a letter.

However, Andrew, who recently moved to Marsh Farm, failed to respond to the request. This has led the City of London Corporation to take the next step, with reports that it will formally express disapproval.

This is because the honour cannot be taken away from an individual, only given up.

Andrew received the honour in 2012, "by virtue of patrimony" as his father, Prince Philip, had been a Freeman.

The Freedom allows its recipients to walk sheep over London Bridge and is typically given to individuals nominated by corporation councillors. It is mainly a ceremonial honour.

It is believed that the City of London Corporation want Andrew to relinquish the offer following scandals surrounding him regarding his previous friendship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew has always denied wrongdoing and accusations against him.

As reported by BBC News, a City of London Corporation spokesperson said: "We wrote to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in April, inviting him to formally relinquish his Freedom of the City of London.

"Following his failure to respond, elected members of our Policy and Resources Committee have agreed to bring forward a motion of censure - a formal expression of our disapproval - to the next meeting of the Court of Common Council on May 21.

"There is currently no effective legal mechanism to remove a Freedom.

"Our thoughts remain firmly with the victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and all victims of sexual abuse and exploitation."


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