Overview
- Late July 2026 the City of London Corporation began drafting a bespoke procedure to allow the removal of the Freedom of the City of London from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after advisers concluded current processes are not fit for purpose.
- The Corporation says the change is needed because the Freedom has been treated as a protected right under national law and human rights rules and existing municipal procedures are legally impractical.
- The plan uses a two-step approach: the draft rule will go to a committee in September 2026 and, if approved, the full Court of Common Council will consider the rule and only then vote on Andrew’s specific case in October 2026.
- Andrew received the Freedom in 2012 by descent from his father Prince Philip and was formally asked to return it earlier this year after a May reprimand from the Court expressing ‘deep disappointment’ that he had not done so.
- Officials stress the need for careful legal drafting to avoid wider constitutional or legal consequences and say they prefer to change City rules rather than seek primary legislation at Westminster, which could shape how civic honours are handled in future.