BREAKING NEWS: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor update as he faces ultimate humiliation
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor could face another humiliation
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor faces the prospect of a further humiliation. The City of London Corporation is drafting a Bill to strip the former prince of the Freedom of the City. “We understand why people want this matter resolved as quickly as possible, and we share that desire,” a Corporation spokesperson said, the BBC reported. This comes after it said the honour could not be removed in March.
Andrew was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2012 because his father, Prince Philip, was a Freeman. The Corporation spokesperson added: “The fastest and most appropriate approach is to put in place a lawful process that allows the City Corporation to make these decisions itself, rather than seeking legislation through Parliament. We are progressing that work and, if elected members approve the new process, they will then be able to consider whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Freedom should be removed.”
“The City Solicitor and the Remembrancer have both asked me to point out that this is a substantial piece of work with significant constitutional implications which need to be carefully considered by members, to ensure that the new process is, as far as possible, lawful and workable with no unintended consequences.” Policy chair Deputy Chris Hayward said at a Court of Common Council meeting on July 23.
It follows Andrew’s arrest in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released and has not been charged.
The King’s brother has been under intense scrutiny over his relationship with the deceased paedophile billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein.
He has denied all wrongdoing.
Andrew’s lease of Royal Lodge and his ability to sublet the estate’s properties offered “best value” when the arrangements were first put in place, MPs have been told.
The Crown Estate faced a Commons committee hearing on Monday when its chief executive was quizzed on the disgraced ex-duke’s former accommodation.
The late Queen’s second son, Andrew, received an undisclosed private income from subletting three cottages on his Royal Lodge estate while paying a peppercorn rent for more than two decades, a National Audit Office investigation revealed last month.
The payments came to light after Andrew, who was stripped of his titles over his links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, was forced to vacate his home and move into Marsh Farm on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, amid public outcry about the rent he paid.
His leasehold agreement revealed that he paid £1 million for the lease and that, since then, he has paid “one peppercorn” of rent, if demanded, per year.
He was also required to pay a further £7.5 million for refurbishments completed in 2005.
