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You probably recognise that chap on the left of the above photo.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, of course, pictured in November 1993 receiving the Freedom Scroll after being awarded the Freedom of the City of Glasgow in 1981.

Due to his incarceration, he would wait 12 years before receiving the Scroll in person.

So what does Freedom of the City actually mean? I wish I could tell you it means you get to do whatever you please, waltzing into bars and restaurants without forking out a cent, but that’s not exactly the case.

According to Wikipedia, it’s “an honour bestowed by a municipality upon a valued member of the community, or upon a visiting celebrity or dignitary”.

It arose from the “medieval practice of granting respected citizens freedom from serfdom” and lives on in countries such as South Africa, the US, the UK, Ireland, and Australia.

The term is in the news because the city of York has said it plans to revoke Prince Andrew’s honorary Freedom of the City following the out of court settlement ahead of the civil suit against him.

He was awarded the honour in 1987 in front of a massive crowd in excess of 200 000 people.

The hits just keep on coming, but at least he’s got mummy’s money to bail him out of a tricky situation.

Freedom of the City differs from place to place. In London, Freedom was only open to British or Commonwealth Citizens prior to 1996 but has now extended globally and persons of any nationality may be admitted:

Freedom ceremonies take place in the Chamberlain’s Court at Guildhall and are usually conducted by the Clerk of the Court or his Assistant.

Freemen, their nominators and guests are escorted to the Court by the Beadle, who wears a top hat and frockcoat. The Clerk of the Court wears a silk gown, and if the Chamberlain performs the ceremony, he wears the traditional ermine-trimmed gown. The prospective Freeman is invited to read the ‘Declaration of a Freeman’ and to sign the Freeman’s Declaration Book.

Image: Frank O. Salisbury / Guildhall Art Gallery

The Copy of the Freedom – a parchment document with the name of the recipient beautifully inscribed by a calligrapher – is presented by the Clerk, together with a copy of the ‘Rules for the Conduct of Life’ which date from the mid-18th century. The Clerk or Chamberlain extends the right hand of fellowship to the recipient and greets them as ‘a Citizen of London’.

Past Honorary Freemen include Florence Nightingale, Winston Churchill (above), Queen Elizabeth II, and Stephen Hawking.

In Dublin, the “award of Freedom of the City of Dublin acknowledges the contribution of certain people to the life of our city. It also bestows honour to important visitors to Dublin.”

There are no financial or other benefits are attached to the Freedom of the City. Rather, it’s about bragging rights and some “interesting symbolic privileges and duties”.

Closer to home, the City of Cape Town dishes out the Freedom of the City as one of the civic honours, recognising “extraordinary contributions or acts of service to our city and its residents”:

We present this award to individuals, organisations or military units that have distinguished themselves by their heroic service.

This is the highest honour awarded by Council and may be presented if there is a unanimous decision. Once they have been awarded, the recipients are referred to as Freemen of the City.

Recipients include Madiba, Desmond Tutu, and Barack Obama.

Again, this does not come with carte blanche to behave as you please in a particular city without fear of repercussion.

Not really worth much then, is it?

[sources:wiki&london&dublin&coct]