Andrew will get to maintain a title! Former prince will retain his Freedom of the City of London as a result of he inherited it from father Prince Philip
He’s lost nearly all his titles in the past few years due to his links to Jeffrey Epstein.
But Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is expected to keep one of his few remaining honours – the Freedom of the City of London, which he received in 2012.
The former duke was given the title by the City of London Corporation ‘by virtue of patrimony’ at the time, because his father Prince Phillip was a Freeman.
The council has been investigating whether it can remove the honour amid ongoing allegations about how the King’s brother was linked to paedophile financier Epstein.
But officials have now confirmed that a review has now concluded that the honour cannot be removed because it is 66-year-old Andrew’s legal right to have inherited it.
A City of London Corporation spokesperson told the Daily Mail today: ‘Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor received the Freedom of the City of London in 2012 by virtue of patrimony, which is inherited as the child of a Freeman and constitutes a legal right.
‘Applications via patrimony are not considered by our elected members. We have carefully considered whether it is possible to remove a Freedom granted by patrimony and understand that we are not able to do so.’
The Freedom of the City of London is a way of paying tribute to an individual’s outstanding contribution to public life and is believed to have begun in 1237.
Andrew speaks with his father Prince Philip at Epsom Racecourse in Surrey in June 2016
The Freedom title allows recipients to walk sheep over London Bridge. TV presenter Michael Portillo is pictured with Freemen of the City of London as carries out the tradition in 2019
The title, a ceremonial honour which allows recipients to walk sheep over London Bridge, is normally given to people nominated by Corporation councillors.
Among those to have received the award in recent years are comedian Sir Lenny Henry, actress Cate Blanchett, choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne, boxer Frank Bruno, England footballer Harry Kane; and musician Ronnie Wood.
Last October, King Charles III began the formal process to strip Andrew of his royal titles, styles and honours after intensified scrutiny over his links to Epstein.
Then, Andrew was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office after claims he shared sensitive information with Epstein while a trade envoy.
He spent 11 hours in custody as searches were conducted at his home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk and at his former home, Royal Lodge in Windsor.
Andrew, who remains eighth in line to the throne, has always vehemently denied any wrongdoing. His father Philip died in April 2021 aged 99 at Windsor Castle.
