BT has said it will refuse to work with a firm unless it drops Prince Andrew as a patron – as the fallout from his car crash TV interview continues.
It comes as the Duke of York faced a backlash around his toe-curling interview that plunged the Royal Family into its biggest crisis in years.
During the disastrous interview with Emily Maitlis, Andrew failed to express any sympathy for the victims of paedo pal Jeffrey Epstein, who was found hanged in jail in August while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
Several universities, businesses and charities have sought to distance themselves from the scandal-hit royal and he cancelled a planned visit to flood-hit areas of Yorkshire yesterday.
Telecoms giant BT today said it was reviewing its work with iDEA, a company promoting digital skills.
It said: “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.”
Theprinceis a patron of or has official roles with more than 200 charities, 24 of which are primarily concerned with children or young people.
Two corporate sponsors yesterday said they had withdrawn from Pitch@Palace, theprince’smain charitable project.
Standard Chartered, the bank, said: “We won’t be renewing the sponsorship when it ends in February.”
Meanwhile Advertising Week Europe said: “While our support for entrepreneurs remains just as strong, we can confirm that Pitch@Palace will not be held as part of Advertising Week Europe 2020”.
The main backer, the accountancy giant KPMG, withdrew support in a move linked to the publicity aroundAndrew’sties to Epstein.
The insurance company Aon, tech company Gravity Road and the pharmaceutical giant Astrazeneca also backed out.
Hult International Business School said it was reviewing its partnership with Pitch@Palace.
Four Australian universities have also said they would not be continuing their involvement in Pitch@Palace Australia.
Barclays would not comment and computer firm Cisco said it decided not to renew its support in April.
Prince Andrew founded Pitch@Palace in 2014 and its website promises contact with CEOs, influencers, and mentors.
Meanwhile senior figures at the English National Ballet are lobbying for Prince Andrew to be removed as patron.
A source told The Times: “Everyone is hoping that it can be resolved without requiring collective discussion.
“But at some point it will require that discussion if he does not stand down. The trouble is he has a thick skin and I am sure he would be reluctant to.”
Outward Bound and the British Exploring Society are holding special board meetings this week to discuss the situation.
The prince’s daughter Beatrice is a trustee of Outward Bound but will be prevented from taking part in the meeting.
The Jubilee Sailing Trust is understood to be reviewing the duke’s patronage at a meeting next month.
Youth charities Power2 and the Golf Foundation said they were “monitoring the situation closely”.
Other charities, including hospitals such as the Royal Free in north London and Canada’s Sick Kids Foundation, are refusing to discuss the matter.
The Childrens Foundation and British Deaf Association have yet to comment about Andrew’s patronages with their charities.
Children North East, The Tall Ships Youth Trust, Seafarers’ Hospital Society and Action on Hearing Loss declined to comment.
The NSPCC moved to distance itself from the Prince in August.
‘CONTRARY TO UNIVERSITY’S VALUES’
London Metropolitan University is also reviewing the Duke of York’s role as its patron.
A spokesman for the university said: “We will be reviewing the position of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, as our Patron at the next Board of Governors meeting on Tuesday 26th November.
“The University opposes all forms of discrimination, abuse, human trafficking and any activity that is contrary to the University’s values.”
Andrew took over the position from his father the Duke of Edinburgh in 2013.
Students atHuddersfield Universityvoted in favour of a motion to lobby Prince Andrew to resign as chancellor.
The motion, which was tabled by Tristan Smith, stated: “We as students at the University of Huddersfield and members of Huddersfield Students’ Union should not be represented by a man with ties to organised child sexual exploitation and assault.
“Prince Andrew’s association with a known paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein…combined with the allegations made by Virginia Giuffre (Roberts) that Prince Andrew sexually assaulted her make him an utterly unsuitable representative for us here at the University of Huddersfield.
“We need to put survivors of sexual assault above royal connections and show students, alumni, and prospective students that this institution cares about their well-being, irrespective of the status of the alleged perpetrator.”
Two of Australia’s biggest universities, Bond University in Queensland and Melbourne’s RMIT University, have also severed ties with the royal’s charity.
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 victimVirginia Roberts, then aged 17.
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 Epsteins victims, told HOAR: There was a sense of astonishment from them about the interview.
“Prince Andrew said he didnt regret the friendship with Epstein because this child molester was able to introduce him to some important people. That just baffled me.”
In the Newsnight interview, Andrew claimed he had no recollection of meeting Ms Roberts and said he had been at a party at Pizza Express in Woking on the night they are alleged to have had sex after attending Tramp nightclub in London.
City giant KPMG and Standard Chartered pulled out of Andrew’s international business platform Pitch@Palace
Sources say the Duke isn’t aware of the backlash around his repeated denials of any sexual relationship with Virginia Roberts
A lawyer demanded Andrew give a statement to FBI agents probing his paedophile pal Epstein
