Duke of York removed from 47 patronages
Charities rush to distance themselves from Quuen’s son over links with dead paedophile Epstein
THE Duke of York has been removed as patron of almost 50 organisations, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose, despite his expressed intention to one day return to public life.
The proportion of his charities and organisations, thought to be at least one in four, that opted to sever ties following the Duke’s friendship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, underlines the scale of the damage to his reputation.
Many, particularly those working with children, felt it was “no longer appropriate” to continue their associations with him. Others said they had determined to find a representative “better suited” to their aims and values.
When the Duke, 61, announced on in November 2019 that he was “stepping back from public duties for the foreseeable future” following the furore over his disastrous Newsnight interview, many of his charities found themselves in a difficult position.
Several took the decision to end their association with immediate effect. They included the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, the Golf Foundation, the Children’s Foundation, the Outward
Bound Trust and the British Science Association. The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Children’s Fund said: “We felt that as a children’s charity it was not appropriate for him to remain patron.”
Others such as Berkshire County Cricket Club, the Society for Nautical Research, the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions and Whitgift School in Croydon, also severed ties. Around 200 charities and organisations are said to have the Duke’s backing.
Of around 150 contacted by The Telegraph, 47 confirmed they had ended their affiliation with him. Many declined to respond or opted not to comment, suggesting the subject remains highly sensitive.
Of those who had severed ties, the majority said they had not yet replaced him. However, many said they were hoping to recruit individuals more aligned to their aims. Only three, the British Science Association, the Council of British International Schools and the Tall Ships Youth Trust, said they had contacted Buckingham Palace in the hope of finding a new royal patron.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the York Minster Fund have confirmed that they replaced the Duke as royal patron with his brother, the Prince of Wales. Others felt they should cut ties with the Duke but felt unable to do so as he had not been charged or convicted of any crime. Instead of formally parting ways, they removed his portrait from the wall, deleted his name from their website and, in one case, concealed a plaque bearing his name behind a plant.
Those confirming that they have maintained links with the Duke, whilst accepting that he cannot engage in any activity on their behalf, include the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, the Friends of the Staffordshire Regiment, Morayvia Aerospace Centre and Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.
The Telegraph investigation found that a lack of contact from Buckingham Palace about the unfolding events in 2019 had caused significant confusion.
Several organisations, having heard nothing directly from the Duke’s office, believed that when he stepped back, he had in fact, stepped down. Fire Sport UK said it assumed that the Duke had resigned and that it would be notified in due course who would take on the role.
The Foundation for Liver Research also said that it was their understanding that he was no longer their patron.
Tim Ward, a trustee of the Friends of Lakefield College School, which the Duke attended in 1978, said that when the Duke stepped back for the foreseeable future, “we considered that the end of the patronage.” He was removed from its website and note paper.
A Buckingham Palace source acknowledged that the Duke’s individual patronages had not been contacted. “The announcement of the Duke of York stepping back received widespread attention and many patronages were quick to get in touch,” they said.
“Since then, patronages wishing to discuss the impact on their operations have been dealt with as they arose.”
Many charities noted that the Royal family’s website, listing the Duke as patron of 136 charities and organisations, was out of date.
The Duke’s fall from grace was prompted by his BBC Two Newsnight interview in which he insisted he had no recollection of meeting Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims who claims she was forced to have sex with the Duke. The Duke has always denied these claims.
He said he had asked the Queen for permission to “step back from public duties for the foreseeable future.”
A spokespe spokesperson for the Duke of York declined to co comment.