Amanda Thirsk

Amanda Thirsk
LVO
Born (1965-07-04) 4 July 1965
EducationSt Paul's Girls' School
Alma materSelwyn College, Cambridge
Known for

Amanda Jane Thirsk LVO (born 4 July 1965) is a British courtier and business executive who served as private secretary to Prince Andrew, Duke of York from 2012 to 2020.[1] As of 2024, she works in business development at the Chinese e-commerce company JD.com.[2]

Early life

She was educated at St Paul's Girls' School and completed a law degree at Selwyn College, Cambridge in 1987.[3]

Royal Household

Thirsk joined the royal household in 2004, as Prince Andrew's office controller.[4] In this role she was responsible for his public and private finances.[5] She became his private secretary in 2012.[6]

Newsnight interview

Thirsk was instrumental in organising Prince Andrew's infamous 2019 Newsnight interview,[7] which received widespread negative reaction, and was described as "disastrous".[8][9][10] Andrew withdrew from royal duties following the interview, and Thirsk was moved from the role of private secretary, to become chief executive of Pitch@Palace.[7]

She was portrayed by Keeley Hawes in the 2024 film Scoop,[11][12] and by Joanna Scanlan in the 2024 drama A Very Royal Scandal.[13]

Pitch@Palace

The Pitch@Palace initiative was founded by Prince Andrew in 2014 to support entrepreneurs by amplifying and accelerating their business ideas. Pitch@Palace Global Limited was founded in February 2017,[14] and held in the name of Thirsk.[15] Thirsk became chief executive of Pitch@Palace in November 2019, following Andrew's withdrawal from royal duties.[7] Thirsk resigned as chief executive of Pitch@Palace in April 2020,[16] and by early 2021, ownership was transferred to Knox House Trustees (UK) Limited, a company ultimately owned by Doug Barrowman.[15]

Personal life

Her husband, Jeremy, was a banker who worked as chief financial officer of Enron in Asia, and died of a heart attack in 2007, aged 46.[5]

Honours

She was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2013 Birthday Honours.[17]

References

  1. ^ Emily Burack (12 April 2024). "How Amanda Thirsk Convinced Prince Andrew to Sit for the BBC Interview". Town & Country. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  2. ^ Mark Kleinman (25 February 2024). "Former Prince Andrew aide eyes role in takeover bid for Currys". Sky News. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Thirsk, Amanda Jane, (born 4 July 1965), Head of International Business Development, JD.com, since 2020." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 1 Dec. 2014
  4. ^ Annabel Sampson (10 January 2020). "Prince Andrew's private secretary steps down with five-figure payoff". Tatler. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Duke of York's former right-hand woman works for Chinese firm". The Daily Telegraph. 18 December 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Prince Andrew's top aide agrees palace legal settlement". Sky News. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  7. ^ a b c "Prince Andrew: Barclays ends support for Pitch@Palace". BBC News. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Queen approved Andrew's 'disastrous' interview, Emily Maitlis says". ITV News. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  9. ^ Landler, Mark (20 November 2019). "After Disastrous Epstein Interview, Prince Andrew Steps Down From Public Duties". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  10. ^ Lewis, Aimee (17 November 2019). "Prince Andrew sparks near-universal condemnation with TV interview". CNN. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  11. ^ Patrick Cremona (8 April 2024). "Who is Amanda Thirsk? Keeley Hawes's Scoop character explained". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  12. ^ Maira Butt (5 April 2024). "Men like Prince Andrew were once celebrated as 'sexy and heroic', says Keeley Hawes". The Independent. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  13. ^ James Hibbs (19 September 2024). "Meet the cast of A Very Royal Scandal". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  14. ^ "PITCH@PALACE GLOBAL LIMITED". Companies House. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  15. ^ a b Ben King (29 April 2025). "Prince Andrew's firm linked to controversial PPE millionaire". BBC News. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Prince Andrew's loyal aide resigns from his flagship project as the Duke also steps back". The Daily Telegraph. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2026. (subscription required)
  17. ^ "Queen's birthday honours list 2013: Knights". The Guardian. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
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