Pizza Express conducted an internal inquiry into former Prince Andrew's alibi that he was at its Woking branch on the night he allegedly slept with Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking ring. The chain looked into its records from March 10, 2001, and spoke to past employees but could not confirm or deny his presence.
Background of the allegations
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor claimed in a 2019 BBC Newsnight interview that he could not have been with Giuffre on March 10, 2001, as he was at the pizza chain. He denied sleeping with Giuffre on three separate occasions in 2001, twice while she was underage. After his recent arrest, Newsnight revisited the claims made in his 2019 interview, during which he also claimed that he 'didn't sweat'.
Arrest and Epstein files release
Andrew was arrested in February, on his 66th birthday, on suspicion of MiPO (misconduct in public office) and held in custody for 11 hours before being released under investigation. The arrest came shortly after the US Justice Department released a batch of the Epstein files, with the disgraced prince once again denying any wrongdoing.
Pizza Express inquiry findings
Now, it has been revealed that the popular pizza chain looked into its records in a formal inquiry, as it believed it was a matter of public interest. The branch examined records from that time, none of which were found, and spoke to past employees. Unfortunately, the Woking branch manager has since left and could not be contacted. Pizza Express concluded it could find no evidence that Andrew had been at the restaurant that evening but no evidence that he hadn't either.
BBC and police responses
The BBC reported that Newsnight made 'extensive inquiries' but could not find a record of anyone seeing him there on that night in 2001. In response to a Freedom of Information request over the matter, which asked if any royal protection officers were there, the Met Police replied: 'Confirming or denying that information is held would reveal whether protection had been afforded to a specific individual other than the King and the prime minister.' Scotland Yard had previously stated that his close protection officers were being asked to 'consider carefully' whether they saw or heard anything that might be relevant to the case.
Family diary and Princess Beatrice's recollection
Six years ago, his family diary was leaked, which said he had a home manicure booked in the afternoon, before claiming to drop his then 12-year-old daughter off at the restaurant, according to the Daily Mail. His daughter Princess Beatrice later said she has 'absolutely no recollection' of the birthday party, which her father claimed to have attended.
Political criticism
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey criticised the police's response, telling the BBC: 'Of course the police are rightly very careful about giving any information about who they give special protection to. I completely understand that and it's right. But too often we see these types of “neither confirm nor deny” answers where there really isn't a legitimate security reason – and I think that's what's happening here.' He asked for an 'exception' to be made by the force to reveal the information, adding: 'I really can't see how revealing that Andrew had police protection 25 years ago would play into the hands of terrorists as the Met claims.'
Metro has reached out to Andrew's reps for comment.
