“Working with the Duke of Edinburgh, we aim to continue the 80-plus years of evidence which shows that adventure can build resilience, confidence and kindness in young people.”
Outward Bound offers young people adventure training. Photo / Supplied
Outward Bound Trust chief executive Martin Davidson said: “With the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Beatrice working alongside us, we’re embarking on a new chapter.
“One where every young person has the chance to test their limits, build confidence and discover that anything is possible. Their support reflects a shared belief that adventure changes lives.”
Andrew, formerly the Duke of York, was urged by the British Government to travel to the United States to answer questions about his “long-standing friendship” with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Communities secretary Steve Reed told LBC Radio on Friday (local time) that the former prince should assist a congressional inquiry examining Epstein’s network after he was stripped of his royal titles by his brother, the King, over his links to the late paedophile financier.
Andrew should ‘try to help’ Epstein inquiry
“Any individual who can help with an investigation of that gravity should go and help if they can,” Reed said. “He’s a private individual, it’s up to him, but I think people should do what they can to try to help.”
Members of the US House Oversight Committee wrote to Andrew, 65, requesting a “transcribed interview” as part of their investigation into Epstein’s sex-trafficking operations.
The committee said it had discovered “financial records containing notations such as ‘massage for Andrew’ that raise serious questions”.
The infamous photo of Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell. Photo / Supplied
In the letter, signed by 16 members of Congress and sent on Thursday, the committee said: “We write to seek your co-operation in the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking operations.
“The committee is seeking to uncover the identities of Mr Epstein’s co-conspirators and enablers and to understand the full extent of his criminal operations.
“Well-documented allegations against you, along with your long-standing friendship with Mr Epstein, indicate that you may possess knowledge of his activities relevant to our investigation.
“In the interest of justice for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, we request that you co-operate with the committee’s investigation by sitting for a transcribed interview with the Committee.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed the view that Andrew should consider assisting the inquiry.
Speaking to broadcasters during the Cop30 summit in Brazil, Starmer said: “In the end, it’s a matter for him personally. My view, and this is not about the individual case, more broadly, is that anybody who has relevant information should always be willing to give it to whatever inquiries need that information.
“But the individual decision is a matter for him.”
Allegations denied
The congressional request followed King Charles’ decision to strip his brother of his HRH style and prince title, effectively ending Andrew’s public role.
He and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, were also told to move out of their home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor.
The move came after the release of the memoir Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Giuffre, 41, who died by suicide in April, decades after she accused Andrew of having sex with her when she was 17 and being trafficked by Epstein and his madam and fixer Ghislaine Maxwell.
Andrew has consistently denied all allegations made against him.