Pizza Express Held Inquiry Into Andrew’s Woking Claim

Pizza Express held inquiry into Andrew – In a 2019 interview, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor remarked that dining at Pizza Express in Woking was an unusual occurrence for him. This statement sparked a deeper investigation by the pizza chain, which conducted an internal review to verify the claim. BBC Newsnight recently revealed that Pizza Express examined whether the former prince had indeed visited its Surrey branch on the day of the alleged encounter with Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. The inquiry found no conclusive evidence to support or refute his assertion.

Revisiting the 2019 Interview

Newsnight revisited the 2019 interview in light of newly uncovered Epstein documents and Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s arrest in February 2023 by Thames Valley Police. The arrest was linked to allegations of misconduct in public office, though he was later released under investigation. During the interview, the prince described his actions on 10 March 2001, when he claimed to have taken his daughter, Princess Beatrice, to a Pizza Express party in Woking before staying home for the evening. This narrative contrasted with Giuffre’s account of the same night, which included an alleged sexual encounter with him at Ghislaine Maxwell’s London home in Belgravia.

“I’d taken Beatrice to a Pizza Express in Woking,” he said. “This has all been worked out by my staff, who’ve looked at the diary and everything else.”

Mountbatten-Windsor emphasized that his staff had cross-referenced records to confirm the timeline, stating that Sarah Ferguson, his wife, was away in the United States at the time. He added that the family had a rule of alternating between him and his daughter’s presence with the children, depending on availability. On the specific date in question, he claimed he was at home while his wife was elsewhere, creating a scenario where he was the primary caregiver.

Investigation Findings

The internal inquiry by Pizza Express revealed that no records from 2001 were available to corroborate or challenge the prince’s account. Staff members from the Woking branch were contacted, but the manager who was present that night had since left the company, leaving no one to recall the event. Despite efforts to locate former employees or local witnesses, no evidence emerged to confirm the visit. The chain’s conclusion was that there was insufficient proof to verify the claim, suggesting he could be telling the truth or lying.

Newsnight’s research also uncovered that the Metropolitan Police was asked about royal protection officers accompanying Andrew during his 2001 visit. The force responded that it could not confirm or deny the information, citing national security concerns. This response raised questions about the extent of his protection at the time. However, Scotland Yard had previously mentioned his close protection team in a press statement, indicating they were aware of his movements.

Public Reaction and Context

Andrew’s mention of Pizza Express in the 2019 interview became a focal point of global media coverage, with some outlets labeling it an “alibi.” The claim was scrutinized as part of the broader Epstein scandal, which involved high-profile figures and allegations of child sexual abuse. Giuffre alleged she was forced to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor three times, including when she was 17. The 2001 incident was one of these alleged encounters, occurring at Maxwell’s residence in London.

The prince’s assertion that he was at Pizza Express with his daughter on the night in question added a layer of complexity to the timeline. While he insisted the visit was confirmed by his staff, the lack of records from the restaurant left the story open to interpretation. Newsnight’s investigation highlighted the absence of any documented evidence of a customer or employee witnessing him at the Woking branch that night, further muddying the narrative.

Unanswered Questions

Despite Pizza Express’s findings, the matter remains unresolved. The chain’s internal inquiry concluded that there was no proof to support or disprove the visit, leaving the claim in a state of ambiguity. This ambiguity has fueled ongoing debates about the reliability of the prince’s account and the role of his staff in verifying it. The staff’s access to his diary, as mentioned in the interview, suggests a level of personal involvement in confirming the timeline, but it also raises questions about the accuracy of their records.

Newsnight’s efforts to uncover more details included submitting a Freedom of Information request to the Metropolitan Police. The response indicated that the force had not yet confirmed whether royal protection officers were present at the Woking branch that night. The Met explained that revealing such information would disclose whether additional security was provided to the prince beyond the King and the prime minister, a detail that remains unclear.

The inquiry into Andrew’s Woking claim underscores the challenges of verifying historical events, especially when key witnesses and records are unavailable. As the story continues to unfold, the lack of conclusive evidence highlights the importance of further investigation and transparency. Meanwhile, the public remains divided, with some viewing the Pizza Express visit as a crucial alibi and others questioning its credibility.

Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that his actions were appropriate and within the bounds of his personal relationships. The 2019 interview marked his first public discussion of his ties to Epstein, and the mention of Pizza Express became a symbol of his efforts to explain the timeline of events. However, the subsequent inquiry by the pizza chain has cast doubt on his account, leaving the question of his presence at the Woking branch unresolved.

As the case progresses, the role of Pizza Express in the narrative remains significant. The chain’s internal inquiry not only validated the prince’s claim as plausible but also emphasized the absence of definitive proof. This has added to the ongoing scrutiny of his story, with the public and media continuing to seek answers. The lack of records from the restaurant and the difficulty in confirming the prince’s whereabouts highlight the complexities of reconstructing past events, even with the best available resources.