Homeless man given Freedom of the City of London

Even as a small boy growing up in Cardiff, Paul Atherton always knew London was where he would end up.

But the past two decades haven't been easy.

The filmmaker, writer and now freeman of the City of London has been homeless for the past 17 years.

Atherton was the last rough sleeper to be housed in a Westminster hotel beyond lockdown.

And on Wednesday, he was given the Freedom of the City of London.

”Being awarded the Freedom of the City of London is an accolade and an honour, and makes me feel like I’m part of this great city,” said Atherton.

”To have this given to me whilst I‘ve got holes in my shoes and I haven’t got a penny to my name, there is no greater honour.”

Becoming a freeman is an ancient tradition which historically meant the right to trade in the Square Mile.

It describes someone who was not the property of a feudal lord but enjoyed privileges such as the right to own land and earn their own money.

It used to only be open to British or Commonwealth citizens, but nowadays anyone of any nationality can become a freeman and there is a longstanding tradition of including women. Florence Nightingale was one such notable freeman.

King Charles III is a freeman, as was his later mother Queen Elizabeth II.

Stephen Hawking, Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela were also freemen.

Current well-known freemen include the appropriately named actor Morgan Freeman, comedian Sir Lenny Henry and television baker Mary Berry.

Atherton wrote and produced four short films about London which were projected on to the city's landmarks, and another film, Our London Lives, for the Museum of London.

He lives with Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) - chronic fatigue syndrome - but has struggled to access to disability benefits because of his living situation.

Nearly all his belongings are in storage and have been for years.

Atherton was nominated by City businesswoman and coach Marianna Cherry, originally from Ukraine, who made London her home in 1999.

Cherry is also a court assistant of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers and as a senior member of Livery Company she was able to nominate Atherton.

"I nominated Paul because I just think he's absolutely brilliant, " she said of the filmmaker, who lost his rented flat due to an error on his credit file in 2012.

Tradition and pageantry are everything in the City of London.

Freemen, their nominators and guests are escorted to the Chamberlain's Court at Guildhall by a beadle, who wears a top hat and frockcoat.

No filming is allowed as the groups enters the court.

Atherton invited about 20 guests, many of whom he has befriended as part of his homelessness journey.

At the short ceremony at the Guildhall, Atherton was asked to read the Declaration of Freeman.

"I do solemnly declare that I will be good and true to Our Sovereign Lord King Charles the Third," he read.

"That I will be obedient to the Mayor of this City; that I will maintain the Franchises and Customs thereof, and will keep this City harmless, in that which in me is.

"That I will also keep the King's Peace in my own person; that I will know no Gatherings nor Conspiracies made against the King's Peace, but I will warn the Mayor thereof, or hinder it to my power; and that all these points and articles I will well and truly keep, according to the Laws and Customs of this City, to my power."

Afterwards Atherton said he was overjoyed.

"I'm supposed to be here. I've always believed that since I was about five years old, watching Paddington Bear, watching Wembley, watching Wimbledon," he went on.

"This is my city, this is where I belong.

"There is no greater honour than to be awarded the freedom of the City of London," he said.

"It's made me feel as though I'm seen and heard, and I'm here and I'm surrounded by friends which is probably more important than anything.

"I've spent the last 26 years going 'I am the 'king of London', and now I'm officially titled!"