Sarah Ferguson at risk of losing major privilege that ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was also forced to give up

The former Duchess of York, 66, is still facing the ongoing fallout from revelations surrounding her friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein

Sarah Ferguson

arah Ferguson is at risk of losing a major privilege that has already been taken away from her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The former Duchess of York, 66, could have her freedom of the City of York revoked after an upcoming council debate. She became the Duchess when she married Andrew in 1986, and the then-couple were given the honour as a wedding present from York the following year.

The City of York Council has scheduled a meeting on the evening of March 26 with the sole agenda of discussing stripping her of the honour. Councillors removed Andrew’s freedom of the City of York in 2022, and the meeting at the time heard he was the first person ever to have it taken away.

The only motion in next week’s extraordinary council meeting states: “The Council resolves that, pursuant to Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, the City of York Council withdraws the Honorary Freeman of the City status from Sarah Ferguson, which was conferred upon her in 1987.”

Residents, interested parties and councillors have been invited to attend the discussion at The Guildhall in York. The honorary freedom of the city is bestowed to recognise notable service by local residents, to distinguished people, and to royalty, the council has said previously.

Other recipients of the honour include the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill, film composer John Barry, and actress Dame Judi Dench.

Sarah Ferguson© UK Press via Getty Images
Sarah Ferguson could lose the Freedom of the City of York

Sarah Ferguson’s fall from grace

It comes after six companies linked to the former duchess started winding down in the wake of the publication of the Epstein files, according to Companies House documents.

It said an application to strike off each company was filed after new revelations about her contact with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein came to light. Sarah’s Trust, a charity she had founded, also announced it would close “for the foreseeable future”.

Andrew and Sarah in formal attire© Getty Images
Andrew has already been stripped of the privilege

The former Duchess was mentioned in the recent release of so-called Epstein files by the US Department of Justice in January. In one email, she told the convicted sex offender to “just marry me”, while in others, she mentioned her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. In one, dating from 2011, she called him a “supreme friend”, despite publicly denouncing their friendship as an error of judgment.

Andrew keeping final honour

However, Andrew is set to keep his Freedom of the City of London honour – but only because it can’t be removed.

The former Duke of York, 66, was stripped of his remaining titles back in October by his brother, King Charles, meaning he is now no longer known as Prince.

However, he will keep the Freedom of the City of London, which was received in 2012 “by virtue of patrimony”, because his father, Prince Philip, was a Freeman.