The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Duke returns to official duties after sex claims
Royalty: Relaxed Andrew recognises firm’s support for charity
The Duke of York has returned to official duties – and been praised for his efforts – for the first time since sexual allegations against him were struck from US court records.
Andrewvisited the Berkshire site of multinational paints firm AkzoNobel to highlight its support for a charity he has close associations with, the Outward Bound Trust.
The duke looked relaxed during his trip to theHQof the company’s best-known product range, Dulux paints. He arrived in a chauffeur-driven racinggreen Bentley which had the personalised number plate AY03 DOY.
AY is how the Duke signs off his tweets to let followers know they have been posted by him personally and not his staff.
Andrew smiled and looked at ease as he spent 40 minutes in a private meeting with Matt Pullen, AkzoNobel’s UK managing director, and senior staff.
Claims that Andrew had sex with an under- age teenager were removed from civil court records following a federal judge’s ruling last week.
The allegations made by Virginia Roberts – who claimed she was the sex slave of Andrew’s former financier friend Jeffrey Epstein – were vehemently denied by the duke.
When asked if he was still happy to be associated with the duke, Mr Pullen replied: “To be honest this is a long-standing engagement, he’s the patron of the Outward Bound Trust, who we have a fantastic relationship with, and it’s great to have him here.”
The allegationswerepart of submissions made by lawyers acting for Ms Robertswhowantedto join an existing civil lawsuit.
It was launched by two women, also alleged Epstein victims, against US federal prosecutors’ handling of the financier’s conviction for a sex offence.
He was sentenced to 18 months in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution but lawyers for the women claim a secret plea deal he struck with prosecutors – granting him and any potential co-conspirators immunity from further prosecution – violated their clients’ rights.
AkzoNobel will this year pass the million- pound mark for money raised for the Outward Bound Trust since it became involved with charity. The trust uses outdoor activities to build life skills and confidence in young people.