Bank cuts ties with Duke after BBC interview

Institutions review royal connection

THE DUKE of York’s role in public life has suffered further major setbacks with another multi-million-pound business cutting ties and universities reviewing their association with him.

Asian-focused bank Standard Chartered has joined KPMG in deciding not to renew its sponsorship of Andrew’s Pitch@Palace scheme.

London Metropolitan University is to consider the Duke’s role as its patron.

Amid the unravelling of the Duke’s position, former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith made fresh claims of racism, saying Andrew made “racist comments about Arabs that were unbelievable” at a Buckingham Palace state banquet.

The Queen’s second son is facing the embarrassing prospect of charities and institutions he is associated with distancing themselves after his controversial Newsnight interview.

Andrew discussed his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who took his own life in jail while facing sex trafficking charges.

The Duke has faced a barrage of criticism and been accused of having a lack of empathy with Epstein’s victims and a lack of remorse for his friendship with the disgraced financier.

A spokesman for Standard

Chartered said: “We can confirm we are not renewing our sponsorship of Pitch@Palace for commercial reasons once our current agreement terminates in December.”

London Metropolitan University said the Duke’s role as its patron, which he took over from the Duke of Edinburgh in 2013, will be considered at its board of governors meeting next Tuesday.

AstraZeneca’s three-year partnership with Pitch@Palace is due to expire at the end of this year and is being reviewed, and Outward Bound Trust, of which Andrew is patron, is to hold a board meeting in the next few days to discuss the matter.

During the BBC interview, the Duke, questioned by Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis, twice said his relationship with Epstein had some “seriously beneficial outcomes”, giving him the opportunity to meet people and prepare for a future role as a trade envoy.

He denied sleeping with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims, on three occasions, twice while she was under-age, and said an alleged encounter in 2001 did not happen.

Meanwhile, the producer of the Newsnight interview said it was viewed by Buckingham Palace as a “one-off ” which will never be repeated.

Sam McAlister spent a year securing the sit-down on-camera meeting with Andrew.

Mr McAlister told GQ magazine: “As far as the palace was concerned, this is not going to be done again, this interview. “This is a one-off.” Buckingham Palace has yet to comment on the issues.

We are not renewing our sponsorship of Pitch@Palace.

A spokesman for Standard Chartered.