Duke reveals he will ‘step back from public duties’
THE DUKE of York will step back from public duties for the “foreseeable future” amid widespread criticism over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Pressure has been mounting in recent days over the royal role of the Queen’s second son after his high-profile interview about his links with the disgraced financier.
Firms including BT and Barclays are among a number of multimillion-pound businesses, universities and charities which have distanced themselves from Andrew after the BBC interview.
The news of his decision to step back came after he cancelled a visit to Yorkshire on Tuesday. In a statement, Andrew said: “It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support.
“Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission. I continue to unequivocally regret my illjudged association with Jeffrey Epstein.
“His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure. I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives. Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency.”
I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency
The Duke of York after announcing his decision to step back from public duties.
Yesterday former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said Andrew made “racist comments about Arabs” at a Buckingham Palace state banquet.
The palace spokesman said: “He does not tolerate racism in any form.” The Yorkshire Post reported yesterday that Huddersfield Students’ Union passed a motion to lobby the Duke of York to resign as Huddersfield University’s chancellor.
TELECOMS GIANT BT has become the latest organisation to distance itself from Prince Andrew, as it was revealed the Royal pulled out of a visit to South Yorkshire flood victims after his controversial Newsnight interview.
The Duke of York was supposed to visit Fishlake and Stainforth on Tuesday, to offer support to victims and thank the emergency services.
However the visit was pulled 48 hours beforehand, with Buckingham Palace saying it would be “inappropriate” during an election and while a political visit was taking place.
The visit would have been the first time the Duke had been seen in public since his disastrous interview with Emily Maitlis over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein on Saturday.
As pressure mounts over the royal role of the Queen’s second son, BT warned it will only continue to back a digital skills award scheme if the Duke of York is dropped as patron.
A spokesman for BT, calling for Andrew to be removed as patron of iDEA.
The firm joins a growing number of multimillion-pound businesses, universities and charities who have distanced themselves from Andrew
BT called for Andrew to be removed as patron of iDEA – The Duke of York Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award – a programme which helps develop digital enterprise and employability skills.
A spokesman for BT said: “We have been working with the company since its launch in 2017 and our dealings have been with its executive directors, not its patron, the Duke of York.
“As a leading provider of online digital skills training, iDEA was a natural partner for our new Skills for Tomorrow programme.
“However, 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.”
Buckingham Palace said the duke was still the patron of iDEA and there was nothing to add on the matter.
Murdoch University in Perth has ended its relationship with Andrew’s tech initiative Pitch@ Palace Australia, joining Bond University and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) who have also terminated their association, while the University of Wollongong (UoW) is reviewing its support.
Andrew was accused of showing a lack of empathy towards
Epstein’s victims and a lack of remorse over his friendship with the disgraced financier, who took his own life while imprisoned earlier this year.
In the Newsnight interview, the Duke also denied claims he slept with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s victims, on three separate occasions.
On two of those occasions she was under age.
A spokesman for Murdoch University said: “Murdoch University has today advised Buckingham Palace it would not continue its participation in Pitch@ Palace in 2020.”
A Bond University spokeswoman said: “We have previously said any new agreement would be considered in 2020. However, in light of recent events, the university does not intend to seek any further involvement.”
The developments come after London Metropolitan University said it would consider the Duke’s role as its patron, while a student panel at Huddersfield University passed a motion to lobby Andrew to resign as its chancellor.
We might work with them, in the event of a change in their patronage.