The BBC has disclosed that it received 160 complaints after former Sky News presenter Kay Burley referred to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a “war hero” during an appearance on Newsnight on 6 June.
Burley made the comment while appearing alongside Jeffrey Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips and Minister for Victims Alex Davies-Jones. Seconds after Phillips and Davies-Jones encouraged viewers to come forward with information, Burley interjected: “And we should accept that he was a war hero. We should just throw that in,” referring to the former Duke of York.
Viewer backlash
Viewers immediately took to social media, calling the moment “horrific” and “disgusting” and demanding an apology from Burley. The BBC confirmed it received 160 complaints stating that it was “insensitive for Kay Burley to refer to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a ‘war hero’.”
The Standard has contacted Burley’s representatives for comment.
Context of the episode
During the episode, Newsnight revealed that Pizza Express had conducted an internal inquiry into Mountbatten-Windsor’s claim that he was at its Woking branch on the date Virginia Giuffre alleged she was forced to have sex with him. The chain found no evidence to support his claim, and the Met Police denied a freedom of information request about whether royal protection officers accompanied him to the restaurant.
Phillips, a former model abused by Epstein when she was 21, called on “survivor sisters” to come forward. Davies-Jones added: “Anyone can come forward. We already have had, as a result of us speaking out, survivors coming forward and claiming that they were also victims of Epstein, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Ghislaine Maxwell.”
When host Victoria Derbyshire asked if these survivors were British, Davies-Jones confirmed they were. Burley then interjected, met by an awkward silence as Derbyshire attempted to move on with a “thank you.” Burley persisted: “He was,” looking around the studio.
Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied all allegations. In October 2025, he was stripped of his title and required to leave his Windsor mansion, Royal Lodge.
