York City Council leader condemned associations with Epstein, calling it deplorable for city-linked figures to be tied to his crimes.

The City of York Council will hold an extraordinary meeting on March 26 to decide whether to revoke Sarah Ferguson’s Freedom of the City, a title she received in 1987 after marrying Prince Andrew.

Ferguson currently holds the Freedom of the City, but the council vote will determine whether to strip the honour amid controversy surrounding her communications with Jeffrey Epstein.

The move follows revelations about Ferguson’s contact with Epstein, including a 2011 email praising him as a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend,” which has intensified calls for accountability.

Context of broader scrutiny includes investigations into Epstein’s associates, though no charges have been sustained against others linked to him.

Six Ferguson-linked companies began winding down after Epstein-related revelations, with Companies House filings noting strike-off applications and Ferguson’s charitable Trust announcing a temporary closure.

Companies House filings show strike-off applications for Ferguson’s companies were filed following new Epstein-related information.

Ferguson’s last public appearance with Andrew was at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral in 2025, and ongoing legal and ethical scrutiny shapes the council’s decision.

The case centers on a 2011 email in which Ferguson described Epstein as a “steadfast, generous and supreme friend,” despite Epstein’s 2008 conviction.

Background notes: Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor is contrasted with Ferguson’s later statement that contact with him was an error of judgement.

Ferguson has faced consequences from Epstein disclosures, including losing charity support and facing scrutiny over her titles, with local leaders emphasizing the seriousness of the connections.

The council meeting at The Guildhall in York is open to residents, interested parties, and councillors to attend and participate.