En withdrawal from the British monarchy because of his links with the Epstein affair, Prince Andrew lost, on Wednesday April 27, the honorary title granted to him by the English city of York. After a unanimous vote by local elected officials, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, who bears the title of Duke of the city in northern England, has had the “Freedom ot the City of York”.
This title, formerly associated with important functions but which today only retains an honorary value, was granted to him in 1987. It dates back to 1272, but it is referred to from the time of the Anglo-Saxons. The “Freemen” played a role in particular in the control of trade and the management of grazing rights.
Prince Andrew, 62, was stripped of any official role in January and can no longer use his title of Royal Highness after American Virginia Giuffre accused her of sexually assaulting her in 2001 when she was under the influence of the late American financier Jeffrey Epstein. He obtained the abandonment of the civil proceedings which had been brought against him before the American courts thanks to a confidential agreement.
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Prince Andrew, a “shame” for the inhabitants
Ahead of the vote, local resident Gwen Swinburn called Prince Andrew a “disgrace” and said he should be declared persona non grata in the city and even lose his title as duke. “Our queen has stripped him of almost all his titles and responsibilities, except the title of duke which taints this city,” she pointed out. Independent elected Mark Warters stressed before the vote that stripping Andrew of the honorary title granted to him by the city would send a “strong signal”.
Among the residents interviewed by AFP, Peter Robinson, a 65-year-old pensioner, sees Prince Andrew as “a source of embarrassment for York”. If some, like John Neal, 61, see in the financial agreement concluded with his accuser “an admission of guilt”, others, like Delilah Pinfold, underline that “the problem” is that “this n is not proven”.
Prince Andrew appeared in public on March 29 at Westminster Abbey, on the arm of his mother Elizabeth II, during a tribute ceremony to Prince Philip, husband of the Queen, who died in early April 2021 at the age 99 years old.
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