Pizza Express ‘held inquiry’ into Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Woking claim
Pizza Express has reportedly launched an internal investigation into whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor visited its Woking restaurant following his claims in an interview with the BBC. news night.
in 2019 news night In the interview, the former Duke of York said he was present at the Surrey restaurant on March 10, 2001, the day he allegedly slept with Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims.
Ms Giuffre claimed that when she was 17, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor dined and danced with Ghislaine Maxwell before having sex at her home in Belgravia, London.
Mr Mountbatten-Windsor said news night: “I was with the kids and [Princess] Beatrice went to Pizza Express in Woking for a party around 4 or 5pm I think.
“And then the Duchess [of York] “We have a simple rule in the family: When one is away, the other is there.”
When asked how he remembered the incident so clearly, he replied: “Because it’s unusual for me to go to Pizza Express in Woking, it’s very unusual for me.”
The BBC reported that Pizza Express’s senior management reviewed the credibility of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s claim in 2019 and deemed it a matter of public interest.
But the pizza chain’s internal investigation found no evidence of whether he was there, the BBC reported.
According to the BBC, Pizza Express’s internal investigation involved searching for – but failing to find – records from the time, as well as speaking to past members of staff and management.
He added that the manager of the Woking branch left the job in 2001 and could not be spoken to.
Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide last year, claimed she was forced to have sex with Mr Mountbatten-Windsor three times after being trafficked by Epstein.
The former prince has consistently denied the allegations and any wrongdoing.
He also denied meeting Ms Giuffre at Maxwell’s home in Belgravia.
Independent He attempted to reach Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s representatives for comment and also approached Pizza Express for comment.
