PRINCE ANDREW STRIPPED OF TITLE

For the first time in the city of York’s history, the freemanship of the city has been removed.

Prince Andrew was consequently stripped of his status. The honour was first conferred to Prince Andrew in 1987. It is now an honorary title.

This comes after an extraordinary meeting where Liberal Democrat councillor Darryl Smalley asked members to remove the freemanship. At the meeting, there were two formal abstentions – one from the lord mayor and the other from the lord mayor elect.

At the meeting, Smalley referred to the sexual abuse allegations made against Prince Andrew.

“We believe it is inappropriate for Prince Andrew to retain his ambassadorial title.” He went on to say that the 62-year-old duke’s actions were “entirely inconsistent with what we stand for as a city”.

Prince Andrew was accused by Virginia Giuffre of sexual abuse, but the case was settled out of court.

News24 reports that references to “Freeman of the City of York” date back to Anglo-Saxon times and over the centuries they had a key role to play running the city, and controlling trade.

Image credit: Sky News