Overview
- In late July 2026 the City of London Corporation said it is drawing up a legal opinion and a draft bill to create an internal process that could allow the Court of Common Council to remove the Freedom of the City of London.
- City law officers have concluded the existing disenfranchisement mechanism is defective and that the Freedom, granted by patrimony from Prince Philip, is treated as a property right with protections under domestic law and the European Convention on Human Rights.
- The Corporation stressed that agreeing the legal process must come before any vote on Prince Andrew's specific case so councillors can act fairly and avoid unintended constitutional or legal consequences.
- Earlier steps in the matter include an April request for Andrew to voluntarily surrender the Freedom and a May motion of censure after he did not respond; Andrew was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office and released without charge.
- Officials expect the draft proposals to go to the Policy and Resources Committee for review and then to the full Court for a decision in the autumn 2026 season, a path the Corporation says is faster than seeking Parliament to pass standalone legislation.