Sarah Ferguson has been stripped of her Freedom of York honour. Councillors in York voted unanimously to remove the title over the former duchess's friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Sarah, 66, was bestowed the honour in 1987, a year after her marriage to the then-Prince Andrew, who lost the title in 2022.
© UK Press via Getty ImagesThe honour recognises notable service by local residents, distinguished people, and royalty. Other recipients include Sir Winston Churchill and actress Dame Judi Dench.
The decision follows growing scrutiny over Sarah's friendship with convicted sex offender Epstein, following the release of millions of documents by the US Department of Justice earlier this year. Sarah's name was mentioned several times in the files.
In one email, she told the convicted sex offender to "just marry me", while in others, she referenced her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Being named in the files does not suggest wrongdoing.
Liberal Democrat councillor Darryl Smalley said during the debate on Thursday: "We now know, following the release of thousands of documents, that Sarah Ferguson too had a close friendship with Epstein, which continued well beyond his conviction.
"We don't expect recipients of York's highest honour to be saints. We simply do not want them to be best friends of convicted paedophiles.
© Getty Images for Global Citizen"We stand with victims. We stand for the rule of the rule of law. We stand for decency."
The City of York council's Labour leader Claire Douglas said: "Honorary Freedom is bestowed only on persons of distinction and those having given eminent services to the City of York. As the people of York would expect, holding this status requires upholding the values and behaviours consistent with such an honour. Those who continued to associate with Epstein after his crimes became widely known fall well short of these expectations.
"City of York councillors considered these issues this evening and agreed that removing the honour from Sarah Ferguson was appropriate. This was the right decision to take to maintain the integrity and standing of this important York honour."
Andrew stripped of Freedom of York honour
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of the honour in 2022.
Liberal Democrat councillor Darryl Smalley, who put the motion forward, said at the time: "Having been stripped of his military roles and royal patronages by the Queen, we believe that it is right to remove all links that Prince Andrew still has with our great city.
© Karwai Tang/WireImage"I was pleased to see councillors of all parties support this motion and make it clear that it is no longer appropriate for Prince Andrew to represent York and its residents."
Where is Sarah Ferguson now?
Sarah has kept a low profile in the wake of the published emails between her and Epstein. The mother-of-two was last photographed on December 12, 2025 at St James's Palace for the christening of her granddaughter Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi.
Since then, there have been reports of her whereabouts.
© GettyThe Sun's Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson said on HELLO!'s A Right Royal podcast: "She went to Northern Ireland. She went to a spa there. She went to Verbier. She stayed in a chalet lent to her by Paddy McNally, who's an old friend."
It's been claimed that Sarah checked into the Paracelsus Recovery Clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, after Christmas and left the world-renowned resort at the end of January.
The following month, the former Duchess of York was reportedly spotted at Ballyliffin Lodge & Spa in Donegal, Ireland.
