J.K. Rowling Receives “Freeman of the City of London” Honor

As we reported recently, J.K. Rowling will receive the Freeman of the City of London at the Mansion House for her services to children’s literature.

Rowling has previously received great honors for her work, such as an OBE for services to children’s literature, the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord, the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award, and the Legion of Honor.

Both my parents were Londoners. They met on a train departing from King’s Cross Station in 1964, and while neither of them ever lived in London again, both their daughters headed straight for the capital the moment that they were independent. To me, London is packed with personal memories, but it has never lost the aura of excitement and mystery that it had during trips to see family as a child.

I am prouder than I can say to be given the freedom of the City, which, on top of all the known benefits – and few people realize this – entitles me to a free pint in the Leaky Cauldron and a ten Galleon voucher to spend in Diagon Alley.

You can check out some of the images from the event in our gallery.