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Mountbatten-Windsor to keep City of London Freedom

Ben LynchLocal Democracy Reporting Service
News imageGetty Images Then- Prince Andrew dangling on a rope wearing a hard hatGetty Images
The former prince abseiled down The Shard in 2012

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will keep one of his few remaining honours after a review determined it could not be removed.

The disgraced former prince received the Freedom of the City of London in 2012 "by virtue of patrimony", due to his father Prince Phillip having been a Freeman.

The City of London Corporation, which governs the so-called Square Mile, said it had considered the rules dictating how a Freedom is given "and the circumstances in which, and procedure by which, it can be removed".

In an update given to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), a spokesperson for the authority confirmed the historic honour cannot be taken back.

The Freedom, which allows its recipients to walk sheep over London Bridge, is typically awarded to individuals nominated by corporation councillors.

Mountbatten-Windsor inherited the status as the child of a Freeman and constitutes 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."

Though today largely a ceremonial honour the Freedom is still awarded to individuals on a regular basis.

Sir Lenny Henry and Cate Blanchett are among those to have received the honour.

News imageGetty Images Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II, 1926 - 2022) accompanies her husband Prince Philip (1921 - 2021) on the State Drive to the Guildhall, where the prince received the Freedom of The City Of London, 9th June 1948. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Getty Images
Prince Philip on his way to receive the Freedom in 1948

The LDRS attempted to contact Mountbatten-Windsor's team for comment and received no response.

The former prince was stripped of his royal titles, styles and honours by King Charles last year after further details of his relationship with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein came to light.

In February he was arrested after correspondence in the Epstein Files suggested he may have passed on sensitive trade information, and was released under investigation after spending 11 hours in custody.

He has denied any wrongdoing.

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