Councillors voted to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Freedom of the City honour in 2022

York councillors are set to decide next Thursday whether to revoke Sarah Ferguson’s Freedom of the City honour, which she received alongside her then-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during a visit to the city in 1987.

The council meeting will take place at The Guildhall on March 26 at 6.15pm, with the motion being the sole item on the agenda.

The formal proposal invokes Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 to withdraw the Honorary Freeman status conferred upon Ms Ferguson nearly four decades ago.

The honour was presented to the couple as a wedding gift and has previously been bestowed upon figures including Winston Churchill and Dame Judi Dench.

Sarah Ferguson’s 40-year-old Freedom of the City honour at risk as decision looms

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The motion comes after revelations emerged about Ms Ferguson’s ongoing relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, despite her public statements distancing herself from him.

In 2011, Ms Ferguson sent an email to Epstein describing him as a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend” to her and her family, three years after his conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.

The correspondence came just weeks after she had publicly vowed to sever all ties with the disgraced financier.

A spokesman for Ms Ferguson previously stated the email was sent in response to legal threats from Epstein following her earlier comments about him.

Sarah Ferguson pictured visiting York in 1987

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Ms Ferguson has faced significant consequences following the scandal, losing support from seven charities and being stripped of her duchess title.

York Council’s Labour leader, Councillor Claire Douglas, previously described it as “deplorable” that anyone holding titles connected to the city had associated with Epstein after his crimes became public knowledge.

Ms Ferguson’s ex-husband faced similar action from the council in April 2022, when councillors voted to remove his Freedom of the City honour and Honorary Freeman title.

At the time, councillors argued it was inappropriate for him to retain titles linked to York given the council’s commitment to addressing violence and abuse against women and girls.

Andrew was arrested last month on suspicion of misconduct in public office | REUTERS

Sarah Ferguson and Andrew last publicly appeared at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral in September 2025

 | REUTERSMr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following the publication of emails between him and Epstein during his time as a UK trade envoy.

He was questioned at Aylsham police station in Norfolk before being released without charge, with investigations continuing.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing.