Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to keep prestigious honour despite Epstein controversy

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will keep the Freedom of the City of London after a review found that the honour cannot be revoked.

It is one of the few honours still attached to the former Duke of York, who was stripped of his remaining royal titles due to his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein late last year.

The review comes after Andrew was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations he shared sensitive information with Epstein while serving as trade envoy.

The King's younger brother spent about 11 hours in custody while officers searched his home on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk and his former residence, Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire.

Andrew received the Freedom, which is typically given to people recognised for contributions to London or public life, in 2012 by 'virtue of patrimony', as his father, Prince Philip, was already a Freeman.

The Honorary Freedom is the highest honour the City of London can bestow.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is set to keep his Freedom of the City of London honour (Karwai Tang/WireImage)

The Freedom is usually granted to people nominated by corporation councillors and it comes with a handful of old ceremonial perks, including the right to walk sheep across London Bridge.

The City of London Corporation, which awards the honour, examined the rules covering 'the circumstances in which, and procedure by which, it can be removed'.

A spokesperson later confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the honour cannot be withdrawn in this case because it was inherited and is treated as a legal right.

The corporation said: "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."

Other individuals who told the honour include Black Bag star Cate Blanchett, Line of Duty's Adrian Dunbar, singer Ed Sheeran, comedian Sir Lenny Henry, Hamilton's Giles Terera, and sports figures Ian Wright, Barry Hearn, and Michael Watson.

The review comes after the former Duke of York was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office (MEGA / Contributor / Getty Images)

Andrew has previously faced allegations, which he strenuously denies, that he sexually assaulted a teenage Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by Epstein.

These allegations aren't connected to last month's arrest.

He later paid an unspecified sum to settle with Giuffre - reportedly £12 million. Giuffre died by suicide in April 2025, a woman he claims never to have met, to settle a civil sexual assault claim in 2022.

Tyla has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.