Brexit impact on business - Prince Andrew urges UK firms to take glass half full view

Brexit impact on business - Prince Andrew urges UK firms to take ‘glass half full’ view Prince Andrew urges UK business to take ‘glass half full’ view of Brexit Image Source: Chatham HouseIn a landmark move  that breaks the code of silence the Royal Family maintains on political contentious matters, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, has spoken out about the anticipated Brexit impact on business in the UK… and the message is: take the ‘glass half full’ view.In an interview with the BBC’s Sharanjit Leyl this week, the Duke  admitted that he was “as much in the dark as anyone else” about Brexit, but  said businesses  â€œshould be engaging with as many different markets as we possibly can and looking at the best of things rather than necessarily the worst of things”.The Duke’s remarks are being viewed as an appeal for balance at a tumultuous  time for the UKâ€"with major terrorist attacks,  an unexpectedly volatile General Election outcome, and the Grenfell Tower disasterâ€"and within days of the commencement of formal negotiations  on Brexit.“There are opportunities that weve got to make you may lose one thing but you may gain som ething else.”Since Prime Minister Theresa May’s failure to secure an outright majority in the House of Commons, many business leaders have been seeking a renewed and more specific Brexit negotiations strategy that is pro-business and does not result in more international firms moving away from the UK.Prince Andrew’s philosophical message to UK businesses has come amid mounting concern among the business community about the anticipated Brexit impact on business in the UK.  There are reports that the Government is ready to provide financial support, and French President Emmanuel Macron has flagged the possibility of the UK remaining in the EU until Brexit negotiations are completed.The Duke of York told the BBC this week: “You can either look at it as a glass half-emptyâ€"which is: Oh my God, why have we done this?’ Or you could look at it as a glass half-full, which is: ‘Ok, thats where we are. There are opportunities that weve got to make.’ So you may lose one thing bu t you may gain something else.”The Queen’s son was speaking to the BBC whilst in Singapore to attend  a Commonweath science conference, and to host an event for [emailprotected], his worldwide support programme for entrepreneurs.He encouraged businesses to look for opportunities in the 52 Commonwealth nations, China and the US, and to look beyond what he characterised as “an internal market” of 27 countries.“There’s an external market that’s a lot bigger, and… in my experience recently, businesses that look over that garden fence have gone: ‘Hmm, [the] grass is not quite as dark and unforgiving as you might expect.’ And actually, getting over the fence, there might be some fresh grass out there,” the Duke concluded.Prince Andrew served as  a trade envoy for the UK from 2001 until 2011, promoting the interests of UK businesses abroad.