hmm.....'Cher Key' is a misnomer.The original article was pulled from daily mail & them folks are not exactly the brightest & most intelligent in the way they write their stories & articles when it comes to grammar & correct sentence structure use hence the tag line 'daily fail'.
Here is a bit of history lesson for you.:p
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar & Zimbabwe to esteemed members of its community & to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community; the term applies to two separate honours, one civilian & one military. Key to the City is a similar award made in several other countries, & is more prevalent in the United States.
Forms of freedom of the city
Military privilege
Freedom of the City is an ancient honour granted to martial organizations, allowing them the privilege to march into the city "with drums beating, colours flying, & bayonets fixed".
This honour dates back to the laws of ancient Rome that made it a capital offence for Roman legions to enter the city in formation or with weapons without permission. This was meant to ensure that ambitious generals did not mount a military coup against the Senate. (It was that law that Julius Caesar broke when crossing the Rubicon). Similar laws were passed by cities throughout the Medieval era, also to protect civic security & rights, even against their own king's troops.
However, legions, regiments, or other martial groups that had given heroic service or whose honour was beyond question, might be granted Freedom of the City: the group would not have to disarm or break ranks before the city gates were opened to them. Given the serious risk the city would be running, this was a rare honour.
Today, martial freedom of the city is an entirely ceremonial honour, but remains the oldest & one of the highest civic honours in the Commonwealth of Nations.
Entitlement to civil privileges
A slightly more common freedom of the city is connected to the medieval concept of "free status", when city & town charters drew a distinction between freemen & vassals of a feudal lord. As such, freemen actually pre-date 'boroughs'. Early freedom of the boroughs ceremonies had great importance in affirming that the recipient enjoyed privileges such as the right to trade & own property, & protection within the town.
Civic honour
In contemporary society, the award of honorary freedom of the city or borough tends to be entirely ceremonial, given by the local government in many towns & cities on those who have served in some exceptional capacity, or upon any whom the city wishes to bestow an honour.
The key to the City award is used in many places, in a manner similar to freedom of the city (see below).
The Key to the City is a similar award that is descended from Freedom of the City. It is used in several countries, but is especially popular in the United States.
An ornamental key is presented to esteemed visitors, residents, or others the city wishes to honor. Evoking medieval walled cities whose gates were guarded during the day & locked at night, the key symbolises the freedom of the recipient to enter & leave the city at will as a trusted friend of city residents.
:peace: | 
