The announcement from the palace came hours after two more
Last night the duke confirmed the Queen had accepted his request to "step back from public duties for the foreseeable future," after days of negative headlines for the royal and the many private and charitable organisations with which he has links.
He said: "It has become clear to me over the last few days the circumstances relating to my former association to
However, City A.M. understands the duke will continue his work with the entrepreneurship initiative Pitch@Palace, despite firms distancing themselves from being associated with the programme.
Satellite manufacturer
A source close to
BT distanced itself further, saying that its dealings had been "with its executive directors, not its patron, the Duke of York" but a spokesperson said the company hoped to work further with Idea "in the event of a change in their patronage".
The firms joined the growing number of businesses, charities and academic institutions to distance themselves from the Duke of York in light of questions over his friendship with Epstein, the infamous financier who killed himself earlier this year while imprisoned.
On Tuesday, Advertising Week Europe and tech company
Despite a source close to Pitch@Palace stressing it was "business as usual", speculation will naturally increase about the long-term future of the programme after a wave of adverse publicity.
City A.M. understands a group of entrepreneurs were attempting last night to find signatories for a statement in support of the initiative.
(c) 2019 City A.M., source