York Council Considers Stripping Sarah Ferguson Freedom Title Over Epstein Ties

Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, faces the potential loss of her honorary Freedom of the City of York title due to her association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This honorary title, originally awarded to her and Prince Andrew as a wedding gift in 1987, is under review by the City of York Council, with a decision expected in November. The scrutiny intensified after emails surfaced showing Ferguson referring to Epstein as her "supreme friend" following his release from jail, despite her earlier public disavowal and apology for accepting money from him. This follows Prince Andrew's removal from the same honor in 2022 amid his own controversies linked to Epstein. The council leader, Claire Douglas, expressed strong condemnation of continued associations with Epstein by those holding York titles. Amid the fallout, Ferguson has lost support from multiple charities and has been excluded from royal family Christmas celebrations, highlighting the reputational damage she faces.