UNITED KINKGDOM/FILE: Buckingham Palace announces that Prince Andrew is stepping down from his role as the UK's roving business ambassador

Record ID: 899081

  • Title: UNITED KINKGDOM/FILE: Buckingham Palace announces that Prince Andrew is stepping down from his role as the UK's roving business ambassador
  • Date: 22nd July 2011
  • Summary: DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK STANDING TOGETHER
  • Embargoed: 6th August 2011 19:34
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Business,Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Domestic Politics,Royalty
  • Reuters ID: LVA3128S9S6S4T6KCU5WX1Q5FK4V
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Buckingham Palace announces that Britain's Prince Andrew is stepping down from his role as the UK's roving business ambassador, following accusations over his lack of judgement.
    Britain's Prince Andrew is stepping down from his role as the UK's roving business ambassador, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Thursday (July 21).
    Andrew gave up the post following the intense scrutiny he faced earlier this year over his relationships with a series of controversial figures, including a convicted paedophile.
    The Prince, who also carries the title Duke of York, has been dogged by accusations of a lack of judgment about his links with U.S. billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
    A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "The role as Special Representative will no longer exist as the Duke of York has decided to relinquish it after 10 years," Britain's Press Association reported, adding that the spokeswoman stressed that Andrew would continue to undertake official overseas trips as a member of the Royal Family in support of Britain's foreign interests.
    UK Minister of Sport Hugh Robertson said that Andrew's departure had followed a media firestorm.
    "It can blow things out of proportion. The danger with that sort of thing is people forget the many years of solid achievement behind that - all the good things he'd done for British trade and for British industry. I hope people will reflect on that and remember that," he said.
    Lord Digby Jones, who acts as a UK business ambassador felt Andrew had been unfairly judged.
    "And, so, to say he has been unfairly judged... Yes, he has, in terms of the contribution he's made to the country. Some of the stuff they've printed is obviously true and he has to deal with that. But business would tell you, the stuff he's done for business, has been absolutely right."
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