The Pizza Express Andrew Mountbatten Windsor inquiry refers to an internal review by Pizza Express into Andrew Mountbatten Windsor‘s claim that he visited its Woking restaurant on 10 March 2001. The inquiry found no evidence confirming or disproving that the visit took place.
Pizza Express Andrew Mountbatten Windsor Inquiry
The inquiry became public in July 2026 after reports revealed that Pizza Express had carried out an internal review of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s statement made during his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview.
In that interview, Andrew said he had taken his daughter, Princess Beatrice, to a children’s party at the Pizza Express restaurant in Woking on the afternoon of 10 March 2001. He presented this as part of his account of where he had been on the day that Virginia Giuffre alleged she was sexually abused by him in London. Andrew has consistently denied the allegations.
Why Pizza Express Conducted an Inquiry
According to reports, Pizza Express management believed the claim had become a matter of significant public interest because it was widely discussed in the media and formed part of Andrew’s public explanation.
The company attempted to determine whether any records or witnesses could verify the claimed visit.
What the Investigation Looked At
Pizza Express reportedly carried out several checks.
| Investigation step | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Review of historical business records | To look for documents from March 2001 |
| Contacting former staff | To identify anyone who remembered the visit |
| Speaking with former local management where possible | To gather additional information |
| Reviewing available company information | To see whether any evidence remained |
The company reported that many records from 2001 were no longer available, and the branch manager from that period could not be interviewed because they had left the business years earlier.
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Evidence Found by the Inquiry
The inquiry reached a limited conclusion.
Pizza Express said it found:
- No evidence confirming Andrew visited the restaurant.
- No evidence proving he did not visit the restaurant.
As a result, the company could neither verify nor reject the claim.
BBC Newsnight’s Separate Research
Reports also state that BBC Newsnight carried out its own efforts to verify the claim.
The BBC reportedly:
- Tried to locate witnesses.
- Looked for people who remembered seeing Andrew at the restaurant.
- Attempted to confirm whether royal protection officers accompanied him.
The BBC said it found no witnesses or records confirming the visit. The Metropolitan Police did not confirm whether protection records existed, citing national security reasons.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 10 March 2001 | Andrew said he visited Pizza Express in Woking with Princess Beatrice. |
| 2019 | Andrew repeated this account during his BBC Newsnight interview. |
| 2022 | Andrew settled Virginia Giuffre’s civil lawsuit without admitting liability. |
| July 2026 | Reports revealed Pizza Express had conducted an internal inquiry and found no evidence confirming or disproving the visit. |
Why the Woking Visit Became Important
The claimed restaurant visit became one of the most discussed parts of Andrew’s 2019 interview because it was presented as part of his account of where he was on the date connected to Giuffre’s allegations.
The Woking Pizza Express location has since become closely associated with public discussion of the interview.
Current Status of the Inquiry
The Pizza Express inquiry has not changed its findings.
The company’s reported position remains that:
- No evidence was found confirming the visit.
- No evidence was found disproving the visit.
- The inquiry therefore did not establish whether Andrew was present at the restaurant on the claimed date.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pizza Express Andrew Mountbatten Windsor inquiry?
It is an internal review by Pizza Express into Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s claim that he visited the company’s Woking restaurant on 10 March 2001.
Did Pizza Express confirm Andrew visited the restaurant?
No. The company said it found no evidence confirming the visit and no evidence disproving it.
Why was the inquiry conducted?
Pizza Express said the claim had become a matter of public interest after Andrew referred to it during his BBC Newsnight interview.
Did BBC Newsnight find supporting evidence?
According to published reports, BBC Newsnight also did not find witnesses or records confirming Andrew’s presence at the restaurant on that date.
Is the inquiry still ongoing?
Based on the latest publicly available reports, no further findings have been announced. The published outcome remains that the inquiry could neither confirm nor rule out Andrew’s claimed visit.
