Sarah Ferguson, the 66-year-old former Duchess of York, faces the potential revocation of her Freedom of the City of York honor, a privilege already stripped from her ex-husband, Prince Andrew.
Upcoming Council Debate on Revocation
The City of York Council schedules an extraordinary meeting on the evening of March 26 at The Guildhall to discuss removing the honor from Ferguson. The sole motion states: “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.”
Residents, interested parties, and councillors receive invitations to attend the discussion. Councillors revoked Andrew’s honor in 2022, marking the first such removal in the city’s history.
Ferguson and Andrew received the distinction in 1987 as a wedding gift from York, following their 1986 marriage.
Prestige of the Honorary Freedom
The council bestows this honor on individuals for notable service to the community, distinguished figures, and members of the royal family. Past recipients include the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill, composer John Barry, and actress Dame Judi Dench.
Links to Epstein Documents
The push follows revelations in the U.S. Department of Justice’s January release of Epstein files, where Ferguson appears in several emails. In one, she writes to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, “just marry me.” Others reference her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
A 2011 email describes him as her “supreme friend,” despite her prior public statement denouncing their association as a misjudgment.
Companies House records show six firms connected to Ferguson filing for strike-off after these disclosures. Her charity, Sarah’s Trust, also announces closure “for the foreseeable future.”
Prince Andrew Retains London Honor
Prince Andrew, also 66, retains his Freedom of the City of London, awarded in 2012 through patrimony as the son of Prince Philip, a prior Freeman. Regulations prevent its removal.
King Charles stripped Andrew of his remaining titles in October, ending his use of the Prince title.
