Canadian Canoe Museum also cuts ties with Prince Andrew
Embattled Duke of York had been Royal Patron of the Peterborough museum since 2007.
The Canadian Canoe Museum has its cut ties with Prince Andrew.
Carolyn Hyslop, executive director of the museum, announced Friday that the museum has “officially concluded its relationship” with the Duke of York.
Prince Andrew became the Royal Patron of the museum in 2007 and honorary chair of the National Council in 2018.
“In view of recent events and the Duke’s stepping away from his official duties, the museum’s board decided that it was appropriate to terminate the museum’s relationship with him, with our thanks for the support he has provided the museum in years past,” Hyslop wrote in a media release.
Charities and organizations affiliated with the prince have been distancing themselves after Prince Andrew’s widely-criticized interview with the BBC over the weekend.
The prince did the interview after months of questioning about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein. The late U.S. financier
died in a New York jail while awaiting trial for being arrested a second time in July for the sex trafficking of minors. His death was ruled a suicide.
The prince is also facing accusations of sexual assault with a minor allegedly procured by Epstein, which he denies.
Prince Andrew visited the Canadian Canoe Museum in 2007 to open a new permanent exhibit entitled Royal Canoes, featuring canoes owned by the Royal Family. Following that visit, the prince was named as the Royal Patron.
Meanwhile, the Duke’s alma mater, Lakefield College School, hasn’t released its intentions involving the prince going forward.
Prince Andrew has been a longtime trustee of the school and honorary chairperson of the LCS Foundation. He’s also a patron of the Friends of Lakefield College School, an affiliated charity.
On Friday, the prestigious private school, also known as The Grove, said that the prince’s term as honorary chair of the foundation is “now completed.”
“LCS had already identified a new incoming honorary chair to be announced shortly,” a media release from the school stated.
It’s unclear, however, if Prince Andrew remains a trustee or a patron.
Lakefield College School went on to say they take this issue “very seriously.”
“The school … will act according to its core values in all of its decision-making moving forward,” the release reads.
Prince Andrew officially stepped down from his royal public duties on Wednesday, telling media his association with Epstein caused major disruption to the Royal Family’s work.
The prince is Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s third child and second son.