Sarah Ferguson Loses Freedom of the City Over Epstein Links
Former Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson has been stripped of her Freedom of the City of York. The city council voted on Thursday evening to revoke the symbolic honour amid mounting scrutiny over her ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Council Pulls Ferguson’s Ceremonial Honour
The York council agreed to withdraw the Freedom of the City, a purely ceremonial accolade given to notable figures. Ferguson’s name appears multiple times in recently released documents from the US Department of Justice tied to Epstein. While her mention does not suggest any wrongdoing, the council acted swiftly.
Epstein Scandal Rocks British High Society
Jeffrey Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019, was entwined with many high-profile individuals. Since the DOJ files surfaced, public scrutiny of those connected to Epstein has ramped up — pushing Ferguson out of favour in York.
This blow follows the loss of Ferguson’s Duchess of York title last October, after her ex-husband Prince Andrew had his royal titles revoked. Ferguson had already dropped royal use professionally, going by Sarah Ferguson.
York Council Silent on Vote Timing
The council has not explained why it chose this moment to act. With public debate fierce over the Epstein papers and Ferguson’s link in the spotlight, the controversy is set to rumble on.
