Prince Andrew under massive pressure as sponsors withdraw their backing for him as Jeffrey Epstein scandal escalates
PRINCE Andrew was under massive pressure last night after sponsors withdrew their backing for him over his role in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
City giant KPMG pulled out of his international business platform Pitch@Palace. And the Outward Bound charity could also axe him as patron.
Trustees of the charity, one of the royals' favourite charities which works extensively with youngsters, will hold crisis talks this week.
Children North East and The Children’s Foundation, both charities Andrew lists on his official website, has refused to say if he still had their support after his car-crash TV interview on Saturday night.
Youth development charity Power2 said: “We will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
The Tall Ships Youth Trust, Seafarers’ Hospital Society and Action on Hearing Loss declined to comment.
And charities including the English National Ballet and British Deaf Association did not respond to questions about Andrew’s patronage.
The NSPCC moved to distance itself from the Prince in August.
Last night City accountancy firm KPMG said it had terminated its sponsorship of Pitch@Palace, the Prince’s Dragons Den-style initiative for young entrepreneurs.
It blamed “adverse press scrutiny” of Andrew over his friendship with US billionaire paedo Jeffrey Epstein.
A source at KPMG said: “Prince Andrew’s relationship with Epstein was a big part of the discussion, but cost was also a consideration.”
PRESSURE TO CUT ROYAL TIES
Financial services firm Aon demanded Pitch@Palace remove its logo from the website, saying it was wrongly listed as a sponsor.
Prince Andrew founded it in 2014 and its website promises contact with CEOs, influencers, and mentors.
Other sponsors include pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, whose spokesman said: “Our three-year partnership expires at the end of this year and is being reviewed.”
On another disastrous day for the beleaguered Duke of York after his nightmare BBC interview on Saturday:
- He was accused of using the N-word in a conversation with a business expert of Sri Lankan descent in 2012. He denied the allegation;
- Sources said the scandal had placed growing strain on the Queen, who is having to cope without retired Prince Philip while Prince Charles is on a tour in New Zealand;
- Students voted in favour of lobbying Andrew to stand down as chancellor of Huddersfield University;
- Friends said he wished he had expressed more sympathy for billionaire Epstein’s victims;
- Police in France issued an English language appeal for women who may have been assaulted by Epstein at his Paris flat to come forward.
Barclays would not comment and computer firm Cisco said it decided not to renew its support in April.
Meanwhile, students at Huddersfield University voted in favour of a motion to lobby Prince Andrew to resign as chancellor.
A lawyer demanded Andrew give a statement to FBI agents probing his paedophile pal Epstein.
Spencer Kuvin, representing alleged US sex slaves, said: “Royalty has failed the victims.”
In the interview, Andrew denied any sexual relationship with alleged victim Virginia Roberts, then aged 17.
Last night sources said the Prince still had the support of The Queen — understood to believe him “100 per cent.”
But Mr Kuvin, who represents three of Epstein’s victims, told The Sun: “There was a sense of astonishment from them about the interview.
“Prince Andrew said he didn’t regret the friendship with Epstein because this child molester was able to introduce him to some important people. That just baffled me.”
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