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theipaper.com

Thursday March 19 2026

By Pravina Rudra

Assistant Opinion Editor at The i Paper

Good afternoon,

Sarah Ferguson has been subject to a litany of embarrassments – most recently as a result of her association with her ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and her subsequent friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. But her latest potential defenestration might feel a little more obscure.

The City of York is preparing to strip the former Duchess of York of her Freedom of the City of York – a symbolic title, which bestows no real privileges. It was awarded to her all the way back in 1987 as a result of her marriage to Andrew.

But as Simon Kelner points out, the removal of it is a little disproportionate and opportunistic. York council are likely have more pressing matters to attend to. It all feels a little bit parish council:

“Indeed, you could make a case that she has already paid the price for her various indiscretions; not in a court of law, but in the court of public opinion, a much less merciful arena. She has been defenestrated, dispossessed, derided and disgraced. So you have to wonder what the councillors of York feel they are achieving by stripping her of a title that we never knew she had. Do they really think they are giving moral leadership? I know we live an age of outrage and censoriousness, but I can’t help feeling that Fergie is an easy target.

“She has never held public office. She has not shaped policy, or wielded institutional power. She has not been found guilty of corruption. She has been foolish and toe-curlingly indecorous and irresponsible, and has clearly, for much of her life, had a keen eye on the main chance. But look at all the people (almost exclusively men) whose offences are much more serious and have kept their knighthoods or their places on the benches of the House of Lords, or even, maybe, the Freedoms of cities.”

Click here to read more

Three writers share their views on a single issue, so you get a view of all sides of the story.

I refuse to burden my daughter in old age – I’ve already left her with problems

Simon Kelner, columnist at The i Paper

Read perspective  →

I resented caring for my dad – I had to sacrifice my entire life

Catherine Renton, freelance lifestyle journalist

Read perspective  →

Grandparents do free childcare then are carted off to a care home. It makes me sick

Janet Street-Porter, broadcaster, journalist and TV presenter

Read perspective  →

SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

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Hamish McRae points out that ordinary people tend to pay for wars via inflation and other means.

Britain’s overseas territories are vulnerable – and Putin and Xi know it

Alicia Kearns says that the attack on British military base RAF Akrotiri revealed a very uncomfortable truth.

The UK is closer to food riots than you may think

Tom Bawden suggests there isn’t any need to panic right now – but that experts are sounding alarm bells.

Gen Z is broke, stressed and exhausted – but boomers won’t accept it

Anjola Fashawe argues that adulthood has always involved uncertainty, but this crisis is about huge societal problems rather than individual weakness

Paul Kutchinsky with Serena, right, and her sister on a family holiday. He was best known for creating the world’s largest jewelled egg

♦ LIFESTYLE

My charming, funny father was my hero – then he tore our family apart

Serena Kutchinsky’s big read is an extraordinary tale about her father who was at the helm of the House of Kutchinsky, once hailed as the British equivalent to Cartier.

♦ CULTURE

Hole’s Melissa Auf der Maur: ‘Courtney Love was f**ked over by the music industry’

The bassist speaks to Joe Goggins about her new memoir about the 90s, and how her bandmate was let down.

Andy Stretton from Bedworth in Warwickshire is firm on the idea that King Charles should cancel his plans to visit the US:

“The King should postpone his visit to the USA until the next president is in the White House, only then will it be worth rebuilding the bridges that Trump has demolished.”

Peter Taylor from Ilton in Somerset agrees:

“A state visit by King Charles to a country at war would be quite inappropriate.

“Not only would it allow Donald Trump to portray it as support, it would risk creating the same impression to the rest of the world.”

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