The Freedom of the City of London is one of the capital's most ancient traditions
The City of London Corporation is crafting its own internal mechanism to revoke Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Freedom of the City of London, after concluding that no existing lawful route to do so currently exists.
The governing body of the Square Mile has determined that developing its own process represents the quickest path to resolving the matter, rather than pursuing Parliamentary legislation through a dedicated Bill.
Andrew's Freedom remains one of his last surviving honours, following King Charles's decision to strip his brother of his royal titles and dukedom in 2025 over his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Corporation had previously asked Andrew to voluntarily relinquish the honour, but he declined.
Andrew received the Freedom in 2021 through patrimony, as his father Prince Philip had himself been a freeman of the City.
In 2025, Charles removed both Andrew's princely status and his dukedom due to his association with Epstein.
The Corporation's Court of Common Council, its highest decision-making body, passed a motion of censure in May expressing what it called "profound disappointment" that Andrew had "not surrendered his Freedom despite being asked to do so".
Earlier this year, in February, Andrew was arrested on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, amid allegations that he passed sensitive information to Epstein while serving as the UK's trade envoy.
A Corporation spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, and with all victims and survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation."
The spokesperson added: "We are developing a process that would allow the Freedom of the City of London to be removed where appropriate, having determined that there is currently no effective lawful mechanism to do so."
On the question of pace, the spokesperson stated: "We understand why people want this matter resolved as quickly as possible, and we share that desire.
The fastest and most appropriate approach is to put in place a lawful process that allows the City Corporation to make these decisions itself, rather than seeking legislation through Parliament."
Should elected Members give their approval to the new procedure, they would then turn to the specific question of whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's Freedom ought to be revoked.
The Court of Common Council noted that the Freedom is not classified as an honour or office but rather constitutes a property right, afforded protection under both domestic law and the European Convention on Human Rights — a legal distinction that has complicated efforts to strip it from Andrew.
While some had suggested the Corporation could draft a Bill requiring Parliamentary approval, the body has opted against that slower route.
The Freedom of the City of London is one of the capital's most ancient traditions, with its origins thought to date back to 1237, when it originally granted recipients the right to practise their trade within the City's boundaries. It can be acquired through nomination, application, or patrimony.
