End of an Era: Prince Andrew Closes Down Pitch@Palace Global amid Controversy

Prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is officially shutting down his last remaining business venture, Pitch@Palace Global Ltd, signaling a significant retreat from public life. This decision comes amid ongoing scrutiny related to his past associations, particularly with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Pitch@Palace, which acted as a Dragon’s Den-style competition, offered entrepreneurs a platform to present their ideas to potential investors. Once a hopeful source of income for Andrew after the King ceased his financial support, the company had already suspended operations in 2019 due to controversies surrounding the prince’s public image.

The official application for dissolution was filed with Companies House, signed by Arthur Lancaster, who serves as the sole director. While Pitch@Palace UK was dissolved in 2021, Pitch@Palace Global remained operational until now, despite facing further controversy when its Chinese arm’s founder was accused of espionage—an accusation he denied.

Earlier this year, proposed purchases by Startup Bootcamp fell through, which reflects the dwindling value of the company’s assets; reports indicated a stark decrease in funds from £220,990 to £10,965 over a year. Lancaster retains the shares in Pitch@Palace on Andre’s behalf, and Andrew is still recognized as holding substantial control despite his absence in management.

In conjunction, another linked entity, Innovate Global Ltd, has also initiated closure proceedings. This company had previously aimed to re-launch aspects of Pitch@Palace internationally under its brand, but little has come to fruition since then.

Interestingly, it was also noted that the spelling of Prince Andrew’s surname should now include a hyphen, standardizing its usage as Mountbatten-Windsor. This announcement follows a historical mention by the Privy Council in 1960.

As the prince continues his withdrawal from both business and royal life, this final closure of Pitch@Palace highlights a broader renouncement of his public roles and controversies that have shadowed him in recent years.