Royal Philharmonic Orchestra says it is has 'parted company' with patron Prince Andrew after Jeffrey Epstein controversy

Prince Andrew pictured after stepping down from public duties
PA
Jacob Jarvis22 November 2019

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has confirmed Prince Andrew is no longer its patron following the controversy around his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke of York has stepped back from public life amid the scandal surrounding his relationship with the disgraced financier.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: "Following HRH The Duke of York's announcement that he will be stepping back from public life, management representatives of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) met with Prince Andrew's office on Thursday afternoon.

"At a subsequent meeting of the RPO Board, it was decided that the Orchestra should part company with its Patron, with immediate effect.

Britain's Prince Andrew (2nd L) rides on a horse in the grounds of Windsor castle (Reuters/Peter Nicholls)
REUTERS

"The RPO would like to express its gratitude to His Royal Highness for his support of the Orchestra over the past 15 years.

"As one of the world's leading symphony orchestras, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra looks forward to an extensive UK and international concert schedule in the year ahead."

The news came hours after Prince Andrew resigned as a patron for the London Metropolitan University.

"Following the announcement that HRH the Duke of York is stepping back from public duties, the duke has today resigned as the Patron of London Met with immediate effect," a spokesman for the University said.

Prince Andrew has stepped away from public duties
Getty Images

"The University's Board of Governors will consult widely, in particular with our students, about whether and how we replace the duke with any senior honorary roles."

An email, seen by the Standard, was sent around to all staff and students this morning to announce the news.

The Queen's second son announcing he would step down from public duties for the "foreseeable future" earlier this week, in the aftermath of a Newsnight interview about his links to Epstein.

Yesterday, he stepped down as Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield amid a backlash against him.

After the interview, Andrew faced criticism for showing a lack of empathy towards Epstein's victims, while he was accused a lack of remorse over his friendship with the financier, who took his own life while in prison earlier this year awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges.

The duke denied claims he slept with Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein's victims, on three separate occasions, twice while she was underage.

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