Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been heavily criticised for failing to surrender his Freedom of the City of London.
A motion of censure against Andrew was passed on Thursday by The City of London Corporation, in a formal expression of disapproval after he failed to respond to a letter asking him to relinquish his freedom of the city.
The City Corporation’s Court of Common Council said that it found the former prince’s association with Jeffrey Epstein to be “wholly unacceptable and inconsistent” with the status and obligations of a Freeman of the City of London.
The court added that there was “profound disappointment” that Andrew had “not surrendered his Freedom despite being asked to do so”.
The court lacks the power to remove the freedom themselves, as it is a property right protected under both domestic law and the European Convention on Human Rights - but it has instructed officers to commence proceedings to enable it to “lawfully remove the Freedom of the City from Andrew”.
The City Corporation said its thoughts “remain firmly with the victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and all victims of sexual abuse and exploitation”.
In its full motion, the court said: “The Court of Common Council notes with the utmost dismay Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s association with the convicted paedophile, the late Jeffrey Epstein, and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.
“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.
“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.”
Andrew inherited the Freedom of the City of London in 2012 through his father Prince Philip, who was awarded the Freedom in 1948.
He was arrested on his 66th birthday in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein during his time as the UK’s trade envoy.
Last last year, he was stripped by the King of both his right to be a prince and his dukedom due to his association with Epstein, a convicted paedophile.
The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, and the Freedom of the City is a tradition dating back to the thirteenth century to enable recipients to carry out their trade.
