Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, faces the potential revocation of her Honorary Freeman of the City of York status, a privilege already stripped from her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Upcoming Council Debate on Revocation
The City of York Council schedules an extraordinary meeting on the evening of March 26 at The Guildhall to discuss withdrawing the honor from the 66-year-old. Residents, interested parties, and councillors receive invitations to attend.
The sole motion states: “The Council resolves that, pursuant to Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, the City of York Council withdraws the Honorary Freeman of the City status from Sarah Ferguson, which was conferred upon her in 1987.”
Councillors revoked Andrew’s freedom in 2022, marking the first such removal in history. Ferguson received the honor in 1987 as a wedding gift following her 1986 marriage to Andrew.
Significance of the Honorary Freedom
The council bestows this distinction on locals for notable service, distinguished individuals, and members of royalty. Other recipients include the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill, composer John Barry, and actress Dame Judi Dench.
Ferguson’s Recent Scandals and Business Fallout
Six companies connected to Ferguson initiate wind-down processes, per Companies House records, after disclosures in the Epstein files spotlighted her ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Sarah’s Trust, a charity she established, announces closure “for the foreseeable future.” The U.S. Department of Justice released the files in January, revealing Ferguson’s emails. In one, she wrote to Epstein, “just marry me.” Others reference her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. A 2011 message describes him as a “supreme friend,” contradicting her prior public disavowal of their association as a misjudgment.
Andrew Retains London Honor
Andrew, also 66 and no longer holding the title of Prince after King Charles removed his remaining royal designations in October, retains his Freedom of the City of London. Granted in 2012 through patrimony via his father, Prince Philip—a Freeman—it cannot be revoked.
