Calls for 'sleazy' Andrew's honour to be removed

"Sleazy" Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should be stripped of the honour of the Freedom of the City of London, a senior councillor has said.

Contesting the City of London Corporation's position that the title cannot be removed, alderwoman Martha Grekos raised the issue during a recent council meeting.

She urged the corporation, which is the governing body of the Square Mile, to "do whatever is necessary" to remove the title, arguing its failure to do so sent a message to women.

The Corporation concluded it could not strip the disgraced former prince of the Freedom of the City of London following a review earlier this month.

Earlier this month, a spokesperson for the corporation told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) it had "carefully considered" whether the honour could be removed, but following a review, understood it did not have the power to do so.

Mountbatten-Windsor acquired the Freedom of the City of London in 2012 "by virtue of patrimony", due to his father Prince Philip having been a freeman.

At a General Purposes Committee, Grekos said the corporation had failed to explain why the title could not be removed, calling its position "unattainable and self-harming", the LDRS reported.

Demanding that Lady Mayor Susan Langley - who is head of the corporation - reconsider, Grekos said: "In accordance with the Lady Mayor's slogan of 'un‑squaring the Square Mile', will she now undertake to do whatever is necessary to remove the Freedom from this sleazy individual as soon as possible?"

The City Remembrancer Paul Wright, who is one of the corporation's senior officers, explained it was "very difficult" to remove the Freedom but said he was in discussions with the City Solicitor.

In response, Grekos said: "It feels like there is an issue in removing this Freedom from a man who has for a long time been a friend of a molester of vulnerable young women and who has himself been photographed with them."

Grekos said she wanted the corporation to be "mindful" of the "message that we are sending to women".

Langley said she would answer Grekos's questions in private, considering the legality of the issue.

Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his royal titles, styles, and honours last year.

In February he was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, but was released under investigation. He has denied any wrongdoing.

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