Jodie Whittaker will be one of 106 women who will be awarded Freedom of the City of London to mark last year’s centenary of the Representation Of The People Act, which gave some women voting rights.

The largely symbolic award, which dates back to the 13th Century, used to include the rights to herd sheep over London Bridge and to trade or craft in the Square Mile.

A graduate of London’s Guildhall School of Music And Drama, Whittaker will receive a parchment Copy of the Freedom inscribed with her name in the Chamberlain’s Court at London Guildhall.

Famous Honorary Freemen include:

Angela Burdett-Coutts (First woman to be awarded the honorary Freedom in 1872)
Winston Churchill
Princess Diana
Benjamin Disraeli
Dwight D Eisenhower
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Helmut Kohl
Nelson Mandela
Florence Nightingale
Theodore Roosevelt

Catherine McGuinness, policy chair at the City of London Corporation was quoted in a Associated Press report:

“Many congratulations to everyone who accepted the City’s invitation to receive the Freedom of the City of London, among them, a restaurateur, actor, florist, ecologist, beauty salon owner, town planner, and Bishop of London. I hope that our new Freemen enjoy attending their ceremonies and will take pride in their Freedom, which is one of our most historic and celebrated traditions.”

A date has not yet been set for the ceremony which will take place later this year after the Court of Common Council puts the final seal of approval on the Freedoms.