The Pitch@Palace program, started by Prince Andrew in 2014, is under fire. Critics have expressed alarm over its ties to controversial figures and dubious business enterprises. The competition aimed to support start-ups, operating through two distinct branches: a UK-based version structured as a community interest company and an international arm known as Pitch@Palace Global Ltd.
As shown in 2015 by Prince Andrew himself when he opened a Pitch@Palace event, the initiative has proved highly successful in catalyzing innovation and entrepreneurship. The purpose-driven design of the UK arm, which catered exclusively to their community without fiscal obligations to shareholders, Yet, Pitch@Palace Global Ltd, which had been incorporated as a profit making entity, ran competitions in Australia, Bahrain, and China.
At that time in 2017, Amanda Thirsk was the Duke’s private secretary. She was previously appointed the first holder of Pitch@Palace Global Ltd. Corporate filings unambiguously indicate that Prince Andrew exercises “significant influence or control” over the operation. These records are publicly available through Companies House.
2019 brought significant obstacles for the initiative. This followed an explosive BBC Newsnight interview that exposed Prince Andrew’s extensive connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Unsurprisingly, both iterations of Pitch@Palace shut down in the face of public backlash. The legal ownership of Pitch@Palace Global, the UK registered company, was passed to Knox House Trustees (UK) Limited. This rather obscure firm, however, is connected to Doug Barrowman, an entrepreneur under fire at home and abroad.
Barrowman’s legal representative has stated that he “at no time… had any business or personal involvement with the duke.” Corporate filings from the Isle of Man shed some light on that question. Knox House Trustees (UK) is ultimately owned by Knox Limited and Doug Barrowman is sole shareholder.
In 2023 the ownership of Knox House Trustees (UK) Ltd was passed to Arthur Lancaster. He’s an accountant with very close ties to Prince Andrew and Barrowman. According to a witness statement, the Duke was looking for funding for these relationships built in China through Pitch@Palace.
Later in 2022, one of those companies, PPE Medpro, which was linked to Doug Barrowman, was embroiled in scandal. They were issued £150,000 in fines for unspecified violations.
Given the increased skepticism under which such connections function today, concerns have emerged about the veracity of the evidence that Lancaster was able to provide. A judge remarked on the matter, stating there were “real concerns as to the reliability of Mr Lancaster’s evidence.”
“real concerns as to the reliability of Mr Lancaster’s evidence” – The judge
Pitch@Palace and Doug Barrowman have a complicated history. This important connection raises critical questions about transparency and ethical governance in public-private initiatives aimed at creating entrepreneurs.