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LONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Britain's BT has told a
company promoting digital skills it would continue working with
it if it dropped Prince Andrew as a patron.
The British royal has been engulfed in a growing scandal
since he gave a TV interview on Saturday to discuss his
friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in a U.S.
prison in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking
charges.
Andrew denied an allegation that he had sex with a
17-year-old girl procured for him by Epstein but said he did not
regret the friendship. He has also been criticised for not
showing compassion for his victims.
BT, one of Britain's oldest companies and its largest
broadband provider, said it was reviewing its relationship with
iDEA, a programme that helps develop digital, enterprise and
employability skills. Prince Andrew, also known as the Duke of
York, is the company's patron.
"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."
Several major companies have also sought to distance
themselves from the British royal. Bank Standard Chartered said
it would not renew its sponsorship of Andrew's Pitch@Palace
charity while AstraZeneca said its three-year partnership was
under review.
In Britain, royal patronage is usually considered an honour
and a boost for charities.
(Reporting by Kate Holton, editing by Estelle Shirbon)
