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  "path": "/royal/sarah-ferguson-stripped-freedom-of-the-city-york-council",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-26T18:40:15.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Princess of Wales's former school ranked among the best in the world",
    "Prince William warns of style change as he meets army troops",
    "US ambassador claims cancelling King Charles's State Visit would be a 'very big mistake!'",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
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  "textContent": "\n\n\nCouncillors in York have voted unanimously to remove Sarah Ferguson’s title of the Freedom of the City of York over her friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.\n\nThe honour was presented to the-then Duke and Duchess of York as a wedding gift and has previously been bestowed upon figures including Winston Churchill and Dame Judi Dench.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe decision comes after revelations emerged about Ms Ferguson's ongoing relationship with the convicted sex offender Epstein, despite her public statements distancing herself from him.\n\nYork Council's Labour leader, Councillor Claire Douglas, previously described it as \"deplorable\" that anyone holding titles connected to the city had associated with Epstein after his crimes became public knowledge.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe council invoked Section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972 to withdraw the Honorary Freeman status conferred upon Ms Ferguson nearly four decades ago.\n\nMs Ferguson's ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, faced similar action from the council in April 2022, when councillors voted to remove his Freedom of the City honour and Honorary Freeman title.\n\nAt the time, councillors argued it was inappropriate for him to retain titles linked to York given the council's commitment to addressing violence and abuse against women and girls.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe news comes just hours after it was announced she may be at risk of losing another honour.\n\nThe Stationers' Company, established in 1403 to represent the communications and content industries, has confirmed it is examining the honorary membership it granted Ms Ferguson in 1988.\n\nMs Ferguson received her honorary freeman status from The Stationers' Company two years after her marriage to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, in recognition of her involvement with the organisation's initiatives.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nA spokesman for the livery company, which historically controlled the book trade and held a printing monopoly for three centuries, confirmed the review is underway.\n\n\"Sarah Ferguson was given Honorary membership of the Stationers' Company by the Court (the decision-making body of the Company) in 1988 for her support and involvement in Company initiatives in 1987,\" the spokesman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).\n\n### LATEST ROYAL NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * Princess of Wales's former school ranked among the best in the world\n  * Prince William warns of style change as he meets army troops\n  * US ambassador claims cancelling King Charles's State Visit would be a 'very big mistake!'\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nFollowing the release of the Epstein files in January, a number of charities have distanced themselves from the former Duchess of York, after the files seemingly revealed she had a much closer link to the disgraced financier then initially known.\n\nMr Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office, following the publication of emails between him and Epstein during his time as a UK trade envoy.\n\nHe was questioned at Aylsham police station in Norfolk before being released without charge, with investigations continuing.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing.\n\nBeing named in the Epstein files does not indicate any wrongdoing.\n\nSarah Ferguson has previously stated she regretted her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, she stated: “I would never have anything to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again. I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children. It was a gigantic error of judgment.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Sarah Ferguson unanimously stripped of York's Freedom of the City honour in latest blow"
}