Andrew Windsor, the disgraced former prince, has managed to retain one of the last honors connected to his former royal status despite being stripped of many royal titles and public honors by his brother King Charles last year. The honor in question is the Freedom of the City of London, a prestigious award granted to Andrew in 2012 “by virtue of patrimony.”
The City of London Corporation, the governing authority for London’s financial district, has confirmed that the legal structure behind the award makes it almost impossible to revoke. The award was granted to Andrew because his father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was also a Freeman, and it was inherited through patrimony rather than awarded through a formal nomination process.
Many expected the Freedom of the City of London to be withdrawn alongside Andrew’s other distinctions when he was stripped of his royal patronages and ceremonial roles. However, the complex legal framework surrounding the award has made it incredibly challenging to remove. The award functions more like an inherited right than a traditional honor that can be granted or revoked at the discretion of the corporation.
Officials from the City of London Corporation conducted a review to determine if Andrew’s Freedom could be rescinded but ultimately concluded that they did not have the authority to do so. The rules governing the Freedom of the City were written centuries ago and were not designed to address situations like this, where modern public controversy clashes with ancient civic traditions.
Despite facing sanctions from the royal household, including the removal of his remaining royal patronages and military affiliations, Andrew continues to hold onto the historic honor of the Freedom of the City of London. The award, which is largely symbolic in modern times, has a long history and is one of the capital’s oldest surviving civic honors.
While the controversy surrounding Andrew’s association with convicted s– offender Jeffrey Epstein continues to unfold, the legal complexities surrounding the Freedom of the City of London have allowed him to retain this prestigious honor. The situation serves as a reminder of the intersection between modern public scrutiny and ancient civic traditions.
