Sarah Ferguson may lose her honorary title from the City of York as the council plans to discuss the matter in an upcoming meeting. She was granted the title of Duchess of York in 1986 upon marrying Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, with both of them receiving the honor as a wedding present from York the following year.
The City of York Council has scheduled a meeting on March 26 to deliberate on whether to revoke her title. In a similar incident in 2022, Andrew had his honorary title removed by the council, marking the first instance of such an action.
The council has put forth a motion for the upcoming meeting, stating the intention to withdraw Sarah Ferguson’s Honorary Freeman of the City status, which she was awarded in 1987 under Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972. The meeting will take place at The Guildhall in York, and residents, interested parties, and council members are encouraged to attend.
Recent developments have seen companies associated with Sarah Ferguson winding down operations after the release of the Epstein files, as per documents from Companies House. These companies have applied for dissolution following new revelations about her connections with Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
Additionally, Sarah’s Trust, a charity founded by her, has announced its temporary closure. The honorary freedom of the city is typically bestowed to recognize significant contributions made by local residents, distinguished individuals, and members of royalty, as outlined by the council.
Notable past recipients of this distinction include the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill, film composer John Barry, and actress Dame Judi Dench.