Andrew formally criticised over Freedom of City row

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faced formal criticism after ignoring a request to surrender his Freedom of the City of London. The City of London Corporation passed a motion of censure after he did not respond to a letter inviting him to relinquish the Freedom. Court members expressed profound disappointment and utmost dismay at his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The Corporation said the links were wholly unacceptable and inconsistent with the status and obligations of a Freeman. It stated it cannot remove the Freedom directly because it is a property right protected under domestic law and the European Convention on Human Rights. Officers were instructed to begin proceedings to lawfully remove the Freedom.

"The City of London Corporation passed a motion of censure (a formal expression of disapproval) after he failed to respond to a letter inviting him to relinquish the Freedom. The Corporation's Court of Common Council said it noted "with the utmost dismay" Mountbatten-Windsor's association with the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. It describe such links as "wholly unacceptable" and inconsistent with the status and obligations of a Freeman of the City of London."

"The Corporation said it does not have the power to remove the Freedom because it is not an honour or office but a property right protected under both domestic law and the European Convention on Human Rights. The court said it noted "with the utmost dismay Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's association with the convicted paedophile, the late Jeffrey Epstein, and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.""

"Whilst it recognises that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor maintains that he has done nothing wrong, it nevertheless considers that his well-publicised association with Epstein is wholly unacceptable and inconsistent with his status and obligations as a Freeman of the City of London. In the circumstances, and in solidarity"

Read at www.bbc.com