The Freedom of the City, in military terms, is an honour conferred by a city council upon a military unit, which grants that unit the privilege of marching into the city "with drums beating, colours flying, and bayonets fixed". The honour is usually bestowed upon local regiments, in recognition of their dedicated service, and it is common for military units to periodically exercise their freedom by arranging a parade through the city.
Australia
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
- 40th Regional Cadet Unit Noarlunga: 1998.
- Squadron 605 Australian Air Force Cadets: 2004.
- Australian Navy Cadets TS Noarlunga: 2004.
- 95 Wing RAAF: 12 April 2014.
On 27 September 1980 the officers and crew of the Australian submarine HMAS Orion were granted the Freedom of the City of Wollongong in perpetuity.
Belgium
Canada
Alberta
- 3 Squadron 41 Signal Regiment: 22 October 2016.
- Rocky Mountain National Army Cadet Summer Training Centre (formerly BNACC)
- 878 Banff/Canmore Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron
British Columbia
- 886 (Kamloops Overlander) Wing: 2009.
- South Alberta Regiment: April 1941.
- Le Régiment de Hull: May 1943. Le Régiment de Hull was the first French speaking unit to be posted to the West Coast. It so worried the residents that they doubled their police force. The residents and the Regiment soon broke the linguistic barrier and formed a bond of friendship, often playing in softball tournaments and learning French-Canadien folk songs.
- Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's): 5 October 1974.
- , RCN: March 1997.
- 19 Mission Support Squadron, RCAF: 7 May 2022.
- , RCN: 23 September 2023.
Manitoba
New Brunswick
- 3rd Field Artillery Regiment (The Loyal Company) The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery: 13 December 1968.
- The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada: 18 May 1970.
- 2nd Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment: 9 July 1983.
- , RCN: 6 July 1985.
- 1st Battalion The Royal New Brunswick Regiment: 18 September 1993.
- 722 (Saint John) Communication Squadron The Communications and Electronics Branch: 11 June 1994.
- 31 (Saint John) Service Battalion: 24 September 1994.
- 410 City of Saint John Squadron, RCAF: 3 July 2012.
- 161 C.K. Beveridge Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets: 16 September 2017.
- 527 Simonds Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Cadets: 16 September 2017.
- 9 Rodney, Royal Canadian Sea Cadets: 16 September 2017.
- 268 Bras dâÂÂOr, Royal Canadian Sea Cadets: 16 September 2017.
- 311 Halifax, Royal Canadian Sea Cadets: 16 September 2017.
- 1691 Saint John, Royal Canadian Army Cadets: 16 September 2017.
- 3034 Blue Mountain Rangers, Royal Canadian Army Cadets: 16 September 2017.
- 1777 Saint John West, Royal Canadian Army Cadets: 16 September 2017.
- 140 Kingston Peninsula, Royal Canadian Army Cadets: 16 September 2017.
Newfoundland and Labrador
North West Territories
Nova Scotia
- 29 Sydney Kiwanis and Band, Royal Canadian Air Cadets: 5 October 2018.
- 45 A/M Edwards, Royal Canadian Air Cadets: 5 October 2018.
- 562 Cabot, Royal Canadian Air Cadets: 5 October 2018.
- 129 Caribou, Royal Canadian Sea Cadets: 5 October 2018.
- 587 Whitney Pier, Royal Canadian Air Cadets: 5 October 2018.
- 591 Dunlap, Royal Canadian Air Cadets: 5 October 2018.
- 86 Dreadnought, Royal Canadian Sea Cadets: 5 October 2018.
- 693 Sydney Rotary, Royal Canadian Air Cadets: 5 October 2018.
- 3060 Coriano Ridge, Royal Canadian Army Cadets: 5 October 2018.
- 2878 Cape Breton Highlanders, Royal Canadian Army Cadets: 5 October 2018.
- 2 Sydney, Royal Canadian Sea Cadets: 5 October 2018.
- 70 New Waterford, Royal Canadian Sea Cadets: 5 October 2018.
- 84th Independent Field Battery, RCA: 29 September 2018.
Ontario
- 11th Field Regiment, RCA: 1966.
- 413 Wing RCAF Association: 7 April 2024.
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
- 10th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA: 18 May 1985
Yukon
- Whitehorse Cadet Summer Training Centre: 24 July 2009.
France
Germany
Italy
Malawi
- Changalume Barracks: 31 March 2017.
New Zealand
- Land Forces Command: 9 February 1982
- Ready Reaction Force Engineer Squadron: 25 October 1974
- 3 Field Troop, Royal New Zealand Engineers: 10 December 1994
- Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers: 14 December 1973
- Royal New Zealand Service Corps: 8 October 1966
Nelson
- Northland Regiment: 25 March 1955
- Regular Force Cadet School: 31 January 1970
- New Zealand Officer Cadet Corps: 7 March 1998
Rhodesia
South Africa
United Kingdom
Bermuda
England
- 29 Regiment RLC: 10 March 2005.
Freedom of the City of London is a status into which only persons are admitted. The following units of HM Forces hold City Privileged Regiment status and consequently have the right to march through the City of London with drums beating, bayonets fixed and colours unfurled. Military units honoured in this fashion may only enter the City when the permission of the Lord Mayor of London has been sought and granted. All military units entering the City of London do so by permission of the Lord Mayor, they do not have 'the Freedom' even if they hold City Privileged Regiment status. Her Majesty's forces have no general right of entry to the City unless the Lord Mayor has granted permission. A civic officer going by the title of the City Marshal escorts all military units of HM Forces through the city.
- "G" Company 7th Battalion The Rifles: 23 June 2012.
- 216 squadron (Tyne/Tees) Squadron Royal Corps of Transport (Volunteers) now 216 Tynemouth Squadron RLC. 23 February 1972.
- Royal British Legion (Whitley Bay and Forest Hall Branches): 15 October 2009.
- 2344 (Longbenton) Squadron Air Training Corps: 16 December 2014.
- 64 Medical Squadron 5 Medical Regiment: 2007.
- 3 Medical Regiment: May 2015.
- The Yorkshire Regiment
- 3 Regiment RLC: 11 May 2016.
- 4 Regiment RLC: 11 May 2016.
- The Rifles: 11 May 2016.
Freedoms within Vale of White Horse and Oxfordshire apply to Wantage
Scotland
- The Northern Diving Group Royal Navy: 9 July 2021.
Wales
- , RN: 15 September 2006.
- 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh: 15 September 2018.
Northern Ireland
Zimbabwe
References