By Lucy Caulkett-
Prince Andrew was forced to sack his most senior member of staff, Amanda Thirsk after her reckless insistence for a BBC Newsnight interview backfired at the expense of the Duke Of York.
Thirsk had insisted on the interview, leading to a fall out with his hired PR, James Stein. Stein was personally hired by prince Andrew, but the Duke’s team have made a point that she was not hired by the royal household.
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However, mr.Stein’s initial direction for the prince not to go ahead with a television interview has been vindicated, but with plenty of damage along the way for the Duke and the royal family.
Amanda Thirsk, will leave the Royal Household after years of loyalty with the Duke Of York. Ms Thirsk not just in charge of the Duke’s office, he was also the Prince’s closest adviser and confidante. The University of Cambridge graduate failed to get the decision right in advising Prince Andrew to go ahead with a BBC Newsnight interview.
Ms Thirst will now lose her money from the Sovereign grant and be sacked from her publicly funded role. It us understood that Prince Andrew has permitted her to be in charge of his business mentoring scheme, Pitch@Palace, but there hasn’t been much clarity about the seeming contradiction arising from sacking her from one post, and elevating her to another.
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She was part of the team behind the duke’s Pitch at Palace initiative connecting entrepreneurs with investors at events hosted by the Duke of York in St James’ Palace. On Wednesday, Prince Andrew explained he had decided to step down from his royal duties for ”the forseeable future”.
Ms Thirsk had told the BBC producers that there would be no ‘no-go’ areas for the interviewer , allowing the Prince would face a full and frank exchange. The BBC was reportedly pleased with role in securing the interview, and why wouldn’t they be?
Fired: Amanda Thirsk
It follows a growing backlash following a BBC Newsnight interview about the duke’s friendship with convicted U.S sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Lawyers representing Epstein’s accusers have also urged the prince to speak to U.S authorities about his former friendship with Epstein.
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