Sarah Ferguson has been stripped of one of her long-held honorary titles, marking another chapter in the ongoing fallout linked to her past associations.
The 66-year-old, widely known as the Duchess of York, has lost the Freedom of the City of York – an honour she received nearly four decades ago following her marriage into the royal family.
Councillors in the historic city of York voted unanimously to remove the honour, citing concerns over Ferguson’s past links to convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The decision follows similar action taken in 2022 against Prince Andrew, who also had the same title removed due to his association with Epstein.
Ferguson was granted the honorary freedom in 1987, shortly after marrying Prince Andrew, in a ceremony that drew huge public interest at the time.
City leaders said the move reflects the council’s stance on issues surrounding the safety of women and girls, and the expectation that those linked to the city uphold certain standards.
Epstein died in custody in 2019, and scrutiny over those connected to him has continued in the years since.
Proudly Australian owned and operated