Prince Andrew latest: Full list of organisations who have cut and reviewed ties to duke after interview on Jeffrey Epstein

Bronwen Weatherby20 November 2019

A number of business, arts and educational organisations have cut or are reviewing ties to the Duke of York after his "car crash" interview on BBC Newsnight.

Australian and British universities, who had once welcomed Prince Andrew as a patron, are among those distancing themselves from the the royal.

Andrew’s initiative for tech entrepreneurs, Pitch@Palace, has also removed its web page listing corporate supporters, while the Outward Bound Trust - an outdoor learning project which has a long association with the royal family - is reviewing the duke’s role as patron.

One prominent backer of Pitch@Palace is said to be pushing for the Queen’s son to relinquish his association with the scheme, which he founded in 2014, reported The Financial Times.

The Prince is in hot water due to his ties to Jeffrey Epstein
Getty

Andrew has faced an ongoing backlash after the controversial on camera sit-down during which he discussed his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Prince had hoped the interview would set the record straight and allay rumours and criticism of his association with the disgraced financier.

However, he became the target of ridicule and many accused him of showing a lack of empathy for Epstein's victims.

Cutting ties

Prince Andrew at Murdoch University in October 2019
Getty

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology – Concluded its involvement with Pitch@Palace in October and told the PA news agency it is committed to ensuring its campus remains “a safe and inclusive place to work and study”.

Bond University in Australia – Was preparing to consider working again with Pitch@Palace in 2020, but “in light of recent events, the university does not intend to seek any further involvement”.

KPMG – Pitch@Palace founding partner – Sponsorship contract expired at the end of October and will not be renewed.

Standard Chartered – Will not be renewing sponsorship of Pitch@Palace in December, citing “commercial reasons”.

Emily Maitlis interviewed Prince Andrew on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
BBC/ Mark Harrington

Aon – Asked for its logo to be removed from the Pitch@Palace website, saying it had never been involved in the scheme in any capacity.

Gravity Road – Supporter of Pitch@Palace – Reported to be no longer working with the charity.

Advertising Week Europe – Supporter of Pitch@Palace – Reported to not be inviting Pitch@Palace to be part of its meeting in March.

Inmarsat – Reported to not be renewing its sponsorship of Pitch@Palace.

The banking giant was among those to cut ties with the Prince this week
Bobby Yip/Reuters

Murdoch University - The latest Australian educational organisation to join the list of those severing ties with Prince Andrew’s Pitch@Palace initiative.

A spokesman said: “Murdoch University has today advised Buckingham Palace it would not continue its participation in Pitch@Palace in 2020. We remain committed to supporting innovators and entrepreneurs.

“However, in the current circumstances we have decided that our efforts in this area are best served through other means."

BT Group - BT has said it will only continue to work with iDEA - a digital skills organisation - if the award drops the Duke of York as a patron.

A spokesperson for the group said: "In light of recent developments we are reviewing our relationship with the organisation and hope that we might be able to work further with them, in the event of a change in their patronage.”

Reviewing links

Students in Huddersfield University have tabled a motion to oust Prince Andrew as their patron
PA

University of Wollongong in Australia – Told PA it is “currently undertaking an annual review of its future involvement in Pitch@Palace”.

AstraZeneca – Three-year partnership with Pitch@Palace is due to expire at the end of this year and is being reviewed.

London Metropolitan University – Reviewing Andrew’s role as patron at board of governors meeting next Tuesday.

Huddersfield University – A student panel passed a motion to lobby the duke to resign as its chancellor.

Prince Andrew has faced widespread criticism following his BBC Newsnight interview
AP

The students' statement said: "We as students at the University of Huddersfield and members of Huddersfield Students’ Union should not be represented by a man with ties to organised child sexual exploitation and assault."

The university, of which Andrew was made chancellor in 2015, said they will be consulting on the motion in coming weeks.

Outward Bound Trust – Holding a board meeting this week to discuss whether Andrew should stay as patron. He took over the role in March from the Duke of Edinburgh, who dedicated 65 years to the charity.

Hult International Business School – Will complete the current Pitch@Palace event in early December, but is reviewing its future involvement in the programme.

iDEA - The digital skills organisation has been told by one of its partners BT Group they will discontinue working with them unless they drop Prince Andrew as their patron.

It is not known yet whether iDEA have made a decision.

Staying put

Barclays said it is keeping a close eye on the situation
PA

Stelios Philanthropic Foundation – The foundation, started by easyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, is understood to be continuing its support for Pitch@Palace for the present.

Barclays – Recently renewed its sponsorship of the initiative, but is understood to be keeping a close eye on the situation.

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital - Where Princess Eugenie underwent corrective spinal surgery at the age

of 12, both confirmed that Andrew was a patron but refused to comment further.

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