Prince Andrew lost another ceremonial honor when groups in Britain cut ties with members of the royal family who were abused over allegations of sexual misconduct.
The North York City Council on Wednesday night unanimously endorsed Prince’s “freedom of the city”. This honor was bestowed on Andrew in 1987 after Queen Elizabeth II made him Duke of York.
Andrew is the first person to be stripped of his status, a sacred honor that dates back to the Middle Ages, when “free” people enjoyed special privileges. Winners include actress Judy Dench and Princess Anna, Andrews e.
Andrew was relieved of his honorary military duties in January amid a scandal over having sex with a 17-year-old girl and fears a scandal will stain the Windsor home. The Queen also removed his honorary leadership of several charities known as the Royal Guard and banned him from using the title “His Royal Highness” in official terms.
Andrew later settled the lawsuit, agreeing to pay the defendant an unspecified sum that British media reported could be $12 million ($15 million). He denies the charges.
York City Councilor Daryl Smell said the city is simply following the Queen’s lead in removing Andrew’s titles.
“He saw that this was seriously damaging the reputation of these military institutions and charities, so he became involved in removing him from office,” Smelie told ITV News. “We firmly believe and many residents agree that we must remove all ties between our city and Prince Andrew.”
Smell and other local leaders argued that Andrew should also lose the title of Duke of York.
“York has had a fantastic relationship with the monarchy for hundreds of years. “That’s what we value,” he said. “We cannot appreciate this as long as we have Prince Andrew as our supreme kingdom.”
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
