Prince Andrew's Perth Visit Under Epstein Shadow: Media Kept at Bay
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's last visit to Perth in 2019 was notably low-key, with strict media restrictions preventing reporters from asking questions as the Jeffrey Epstein scandal loomed. The then-prince's trip to Western Australia was part of the international Pitch Palace competition, which he founded in 2014, but it was overshadowed by intense scrutiny over his associations.
Media Restrictions and University Response
During the visit to Murdoch University, reporters were herded into a roped-off area more than 30 meters from Prince Andrew's arrival point, while a pool camera was allowed to track his movements from a distance of 15 meters only. This deliberate distancing aimed to avoid awkward inquiries about his ties to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Murdoch University severed its ties with Pitch Palace just a couple of months later, citing the escalating scrutiny. In a statement, the university said, "Murdoch University has today advised Buckingham Palace it would not continue its participation in Pitch Palace in 2020. We remain committed to supporting innovators and entrepreneurs, but in the current circumstances, we have decided that our efforts in this area are best served through other means."
Corporate Sponsors Withdraw Support
Key corporate partners also distanced themselves from the program. Woodside Energy confirmed that its sponsorship was a one-off and had ended, with a spokesperson stating, "Our sponsorship of the program was a one-off and our association has now ended." Similarly, accounting firm KPMG did not renew its sponsorship, further isolating the initiative.
Irony in Pitch Palace Event
Ironically, one of the pitches presented during the Perth event was for a start-up social media training platform designed to protect children from sexual abuse and inappropriate exposure to pornography. This highlighted the stark contrast between the program's goals and the controversies surrounding its founder.
Accommodation and Broader Context
During his 2019 visit, Prince Andrew stayed in a luxurious $1000-a-night suite at the Como Treasury, underscoring the opulent nature of the trip despite the low-key public approach. The visit was his second to Western Australia in two years, part of efforts to promote entrepreneurship through Pitch Palace, but it ultimately became a focal point for criticism and withdrawal of support as the Epstein cloud darkened.
The episode reflects broader challenges faced by public figures entangled in scandals, where corporate and institutional partners often reassess their affiliations to mitigate reputational risks. The media blackout in Perth served as a strategic move to control the narrative, but it failed to prevent the eventual fallout that saw key stakeholders pull out of the program.
