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Woking residents have accused Prince Andrew of being a ‘snobby idiot,’ after belittling their ‘wonderful’ town during his controversial BBC Newsnight interview.
The prince insisted he could not have met Virginia Roberts at a famed celebrity nightclub and then had sex with her because he had been at a party at Pizza Express in Woking, Surrey, earlier that day, which was a ‘very unusual’ thing for him to do.
He added: ‘I’ve only been to Woking a couple of times and I remember it weirdly distinctly. As soon as somebody reminded me of it, I went, ‘Oh yes, I remember that.’
The prince’s interview was the talk of the town with the overwhelming majority of people fuming at his comments, which they insisted insulted and belittled ‘wonderful Woking.’
Prince Andrew during his interview on Saturday. Residents from Woking have reacted negatively to his thoughts about the town
The prince insisted he could not have met Virginia Roberts at a famed celebrity nightclub and then had sex with her because he had been at a party at Pizza Express in Woking, Surrey, picutred
‘Prince Andrew is a snobby idiot,’ said Boz Ahmic, 38, who runs a fruit and veg stall in the centre of Woking
‘Prince Andrew is a snobby idiot,’ said Boz Ahmic, 38, who runs a fruit and veg stall in the centre of Woking and has lived in the town all his life. ‘He should stay put in Windsor; we don’t want him here.
‘I saw the interview and was offended by how he referred to our beautiful Woking. It’s a wonderful place, it’s one big family. We do a lot of charitable work and there’s a genuine community feel here. If Prince Andrew ever came to my stall, I’d charge him double.’
Eric Hussain, 38, who also works at Boz’s fruit and veg stall, added: ‘Prince Andrew had better be careful. We’ll set up a stall right outside his house and then he’d know what the people of Woking are all about.’
Woking has a population of just over 62,000 and is currently undergoing major redevelopment, which locals claimed has made it an even better place to live and work.
Julie Blanchard, 45, said: ‘My kids rang me up to tell me what Prince Andrew had said. He’s making out as if coming to Woking is a crime, something to be embarrassed about
Louise Hendren, 49, said: ‘Prince Andrew should visit and see how this town is transforming. It’s got all the shops that you have in central London and a great commuter line; London is only 15 minutes away.’
As shoppers and office workers milled around Woking town centre, Teresa Hooper, 64 was navigating her wheelchair through the lunch time rush with Prince Andrew’s words still ringing in her ears.
The lifelong Woking resident fumed: ‘It’s disgusting, the way he referred to our town. He should come here and apologise. I’d get out of my wheelchair and belt him one.’
Her friend Julie Blanchard, 45 added: ‘My kids rang me up to tell me what Prince Andrew had said. He’s making out as if coming to Woking is a crime, something to be embarrassed about.
‘I’d love to see him in Woking so that I can give him a piece of my mind.’
Louise Hendren, 49, said: ‘Prince Andrew should visit and see how this town is transforming. It’s got all the shops that you have in central London and a great commuter line; London is only 15 minutes away’
John Hagan, 55, who has lived in Woking all his life said: ‘If Prince Andrew had come to Woking all those years ago, I’d have known about it.
‘No one told me he was in the Pizza Express so I don’t believe him. This is a lovely place, Prince Andrew really doesn’t know what Woking’s about.’
Engineer Majid Shah, 35 who has worked in Woking for the past five years, said: ‘I don’t agree with what Prince Andrew is insinuating. Woking is a great place during the day but at night, it can be dangerous.’
IT consultant Natraja Srikanth who is visiting Woking from India for work for two weeks said: ‘I’m only here for a short while but I’m really enjoying myself. It’ s a very friendly town. I don’t know what Prince Andrew is talking about.’
Australian Anna Rinaldi, who was in Woking for the first time to start a new job as an accountant claimed that her first impression was a positive one because it reminded her of home, minus the sunshine.
Australian Anna Rinaldi who was in Woking for the first time to start a new job as an accountant claimed that her first impression was a positive one because it reminded her of home, minus the sunshine
She said: ‘I live in Adelaide, which is small, friendly and clean, just like Woking. I thought what Prince Andrew said was quite funny, but I can understand why those with a stronger association to the town would be offended.’
Kasim Mohsen and his wife, Sala Khan moved to Woking two months ago from London to open Daarna, a Moroccan restaurant located immediately next door to the Pizza Express the prince claimed he visited.
Ms Khan said: ‘We love it here and don’t really understand why Prince Andrew was so insulting to this town.
‘If he came again, I’d offer him a free meal because he could see how nice Woking is and it’d be good for my business.
Drainage worker Daniel Thomas, 35, who lives in Essex but is currently working in Woking said: ‘Prince Andrew has got his nose stuck up his a**e. I don’t know Woking very well, but it looks all right to me.
‘The people have been lovely here. Prince Andrew lives his life and I live mine but if you ask me, he should do one.’
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