Corps news – Embassy 17 – May 2009

Freedom of the City granted to diplomatic duo

The Ambassador of Andorra Maria Rosa Picart and her husband Reg Francis were both given the Freedom of the City of London in a ceremony attended by friends, family and fellow diplomats.

The granting of the Freedom of the City of London is one of the oldest cermonies, believed to date as far back as far as 1237.

A number of ancient privileges are associated with the Freedom. From now on, Ambassador Picart and her Reg − ‘the youngest Freemen’ − have the right to herd sheep over London bridge, to go about the City with a drawn sword, and if convicted of a capital offence, to be hung with a silken rope.

Other advantages are said to have included the right to avoid being press-ganged, to be married in St Paul’s Cathedral, buried in the City and to be drunk and disorderly without fear of arrest.

Along with their certificate, Freemen are issued a holder for the certificate, as it was a document that was carried around similar to a driving licence or ID card today.