RMIT and Murdoch university cut ties with Prince Andrew's Pitch@Palace program - ABC News

Prince Andrew greets some people in suits and points his finger towards something off camera.

Two Australian universities, RMIT and Murdoch, have cut ties with Prince Andrew's Pitch@Palace program after the Duke of York's disastrous BBC interview, during which he was questioned about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Key points:

Prince Andrew has come under fire for a BBC interview that focussed on his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
Melbourne-based RMIT did not elaborate on its decision not to take part in the 2020 Pitch@Palace program for entrepreneurs
Murdoch University said it advised Buckingham Palace that it would not continue its participation in 2020

Melbourne-based RMIT University made its decision a day after Western Australia's Murdoch University announced its involvement in the program for 2020 was under review.

RMIT did not elaborate on why it reached its decision, but a spokesperson said the university's involvement with the program had ended.

"Our involvement with Pitch@Palace concluded in October 2019," the spokesperson said.

"RMIT aims to be a place where everyone has the opportunity to shape their future and we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring RMIT is a safe and inclusive place to work and study."

The Pitch@Palace competition aims to match young entrepreneurs with influential business leaders.

Murdoch University had previously welcomed the Prince onto campus, as recently as October, but changed its tune after the BBC interview.

"Murdoch University has today advised Buckingham Palace it would not continue its participation in Pitch@Palace in 2020," a statement from the university released on Wednesday said.

"We remain committed to supporting innovators and entrepreneurs. However in the current circumstances we have decided that our efforts in this area are best served through other means.

"Over the last two years, we have built strong relationships with other Western Australian supporters of innovation and entrepreneurship and look forward to working with them to offer alternative events for WA entrepreneurs."

Accountancy firm KPMG has also confirmed it will not renew its sponsorship of the competition.

The Duke of York's interview, which aired on the BBC, was deemed by many as a failed attempt to explain his relationship with Epstein.

Prince Andrew describes Jeffrey Epstein's behaviour as 'unbecoming'.

The Prince has come under increasing scrutiny after footage was published in August by UK tabloid the Mail On Sunday showing him at Epstein's Manhattan mansion in 2010, two years after Epstein had been convicted and jailed after pleading guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution.

The Prince came under fire especially for how he answered one question near the end of the BBC interview.

"Do I regret the fact that he [Epstein] has quite obviously conducted himself in a manner unbecoming? Yes," Prince Andrew said as the interview neared its conclusion.

"Unbecoming? He was a sex offender," interviewer Emily Maitlis countered.

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