York Councillors Call to Lose Duke of York Title

On 27/04/2022, councillors in the City of York unanimously voted to strip Prince Andrew, Duke of York, of the honorary Freedom of the City, an accolade he had held since 1987 following his marriage to Sarah Ferguson. The decision was made during an extraordinary council meeting and marked a rare civic action against a senior member of the Royal Family. The motion to remove the honour was introduced by Liberal Democrat councillor Darryl Smalley, who stated that it was “no longer appropriate” for Prince Andrew to be associated with the city. Labour councillor Aisling Musson described the continued link as a “stain” on York, reflecting concerns among elected officials about maintaining the connection. The vote passed without opposition, formally ending Andrew’s ceremonial status within the city after 35 years. In addition to revoking the Freedom of the City, councillors used the session to call for further action regarding Prince Andrew’s royal title. Several members urged that he be stripped of the Duke of York title, suggesting that either the monarch or the UK Parliament should consider the matter. While the council itself does not have authority over royal titles, the statements reflected a broader public and political response following developments earlier in 2022. The decision followed a period in which Prince Andrew had already stepped back from public duties, lost his military affiliations and royal patronages, and settled a civil case in February 2022. York’s move represented a formal civic response, removing a symbolic honour that had linked the Duke of York title directly with the historic city. #PrinceAndrew #York #FreedomOfTheCity #UKRoyalFamily #LocalGovernment