City strips honour from Andrew

Prince Andrew suffered another indignity on Wednesday (local time) when he lost the freedom of York.

Councillors in the city voted unanimously to remove the honour, which was bestowed as a wedding gift in 1987. Some pressed for further humiliation, calling for him to be stripped of the title Duke of York.

The prince has already lost his military titles and royal patronages after the settlement of the civil sexual assault case brought against him by Virginia Giuffre, and will no longer use the style His Royal Highness. Several councillors called for Andrew to be stripped of his dukedom and thereby remove what Aisling Musson, a Labour councillor, called “this stain of an association with this city”.

The freedom of the city is bestowed to recognise notable service by residents, distinguished people and royalty. Other recipients in York have included the Duke of Wellington, Winston Churchill and Dame Judi Dench. Andrew is the first to have the honour removed.

Darryl Smalley, the council’s executive member for culture, leisure and communities, said: “Having been stripped of his military roles and royal patronages by the Queen, we believe that it is right to remove all links that Prince Andrew still has with our great city.”