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Topics: Royal Family, UK News, Crime, News, Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Royal Family, UK News, Crime, News, Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew
Sarah Ferguson has now lost her Freedom of the City of York title after councillors voted unanimously to remove the honour over her links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
City of York Council stripped her of the title during a meeting at the Guildhall in York on Thursday evening (26 March) following fresh revelations about the former duchess’s connections to Epstein.
The honour is given to residents who demonstrate notable service, to distinguished people and to royalty
Ferguson and her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, received the honour as a wedding present from York in 1987 during a visit to the UK city.
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Councillors already removed the former Duke of York's Freedom of the City of York in 2022, and the meeting at the time heard that he was the first person ever to have it taken away.
The only motion in the meeting on Thursday stated: "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."
Speaking during the debate, Liberal Democrat councillor Darryl Smalley said: "We now know, following the release of thousands of documents, that Sarah Ferguson too had a close friendship with Epstein, which continued well beyond his conviction.
"We don’t expect recipients of York’s highest honour to be saints. We simply do not want them to be best friends of convicted paedophiles.
"We stand with victims. We stand for the rule of law. We stand for decency."
He added: "York will have hopefully have etched out our city’s connections to both Andrew and Sarah.
"We must wipe the slate clean, draw a line. Remember our duty to victims of sexual abuse, and move forward with our highest honour reserved for those who truly deserve the privilege. I urge all councillors to vote for the motion."
Epstein was first arrested in July 2006 in Florida after an investigation into claims he paid underage girls for sex. The case led to a plea deal in 2008, years before his second arrest on federal charges in July 2019.
Several charities have already cut ties with Ferguson after a 2011 email showed she described Epstein as her 'supreme friend' and appeared to apologise for publicly criticising him.
Labour councillor Anna Baxter outlined: "We are not living in 1987, and it is right that the honours associated with our city reflect the values of York today.
"It is reserved for those considered to be people of distinction, but those who have rendered eminent service, and it reflects the values we wish our city to be associated with.”
Gwen Swinburn, a member of the public, addressed councillors during the debate, saying: "The decision before you tonight is whether to remove the freedom of the city from Ms Ferguson.
"It should not be a difficult one. It is the absolute minimum you should be doing."
Councillor Claire Douglas, leader of the Labour group on the local authority, added: "As the people of York would expect, holding this status requires upholding the values and behaviours consistent with such an honour.
"Those who continued to associate with Jeffrey Epstein after his crimes became widely known fall well short of these expectations.
"Sarah Ferguson falls into this category as the Epstein files have shown. I therefore call on council to support the motion as presented."
In October, Ferguson lost her duchess title after her former husband gave up his Duke of York title due to his links to Epstein.
She was also made to leave Royal Lodge in Windsor, where they had continued living together despite divorcing in 1996.
Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
The Press Association has approached Sarah Ferguson’s representative for comment