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Prince Andrew interview: Jeffrey Epstein stay was 'wrong thing to do' | Prince Andrew interview: Jeffrey Epstein stay was 'wrong thing to do' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Duke of York has said he "let the side down" by staying at the home of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, adding it was the "wrong thing to do". | The Duke of York has said he "let the side down" by staying at the home of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, adding it was the "wrong thing to do". |
Answering questions about his links to Epstein for the first time, Prince Andrew said his stay was not "becoming of a member of the Royal Family". | Answering questions about his links to Epstein for the first time, Prince Andrew said his stay was not "becoming of a member of the Royal Family". |
The prince spoke to BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis in an interview recorded at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. | The prince spoke to BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis in an interview recorded at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. |
It will be broadcast on BBC Two at 21:00 GMT on Saturday. | It will be broadcast on BBC Two at 21:00 GMT on Saturday. |
Prince Andrew, who is the Queen's third child, has been facing questions for several months over his ties to Epstein, a 66-year-old American financier who took his own life while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. | Prince Andrew, who is the Queen's third child, has been facing questions for several months over his ties to Epstein, a 66-year-old American financier who took his own life while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. |
In 2010, the prince was photographed walking with Epstein in New York's Central Park - two years after Epstein's first conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. | In 2010, the prince was photographed walking with Epstein in New York's Central Park - two years after Epstein's first conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution. |
Footage published by the Mail on Sunday showed the prince in Epstein's Manhattan mansion at about the same time. | Footage published by the Mail on Sunday showed the prince in Epstein's Manhattan mansion at about the same time. |
Addressing his decision to stay with Epstein following the American's first conviction, Prince Andrew said: "That's the bit that… as it were, I kick myself for on a daily basis because it was not something that was becoming of a member of the Royal Family and we try and uphold the highest standards and practices and I let the side down, simple as that." | Addressing his decision to stay with Epstein following the American's first conviction, Prince Andrew said: "That's the bit that… as it were, I kick myself for on a daily basis because it was not something that was becoming of a member of the Royal Family and we try and uphold the highest standards and practices and I let the side down, simple as that." |
Challenged on his decision to stay at the home of a convicted sex offender, the prince said: "It was a convenient place to stay. | Challenged on his decision to stay at the home of a convicted sex offender, the prince said: "It was a convenient place to stay. |
"I mean I've gone through this in my mind so many times. At the end of the day, with a benefit of all the hindsight that one can have, it was definitely the wrong thing to do. | "I mean I've gone through this in my mind so many times. At the end of the day, with a benefit of all the hindsight that one can have, it was definitely the wrong thing to do. |
"But at the time I felt it was the honourable and right thing to do and I admit fully that my judgement was probably coloured by my tendency to be too honourable but that's just the way it is." | "But at the time I felt it was the honourable and right thing to do and I admit fully that my judgement was probably coloured by my tendency to be too honourable but that's just the way it is." |
In 2015, Prince Andrew was named in court papers as part of a US civil case against Epstein. | In 2015, Prince Andrew was named in court papers as part of a US civil case against Epstein. |
One of Epstein's accusers, Virginia Roberts - now Virginia Giuffre - said she was forced to have sex with the prince three times between 2001 - when she was 17 - and 2002, in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island owned by Epstein. | One of Epstein's accusers, Virginia Roberts - now Virginia Giuffre - said she was forced to have sex with the prince three times between 2001 - when she was 17 - and 2002, in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island owned by Epstein. |
At the time she was under-age according to Florida state law. | At the time she was under-age according to Florida state law. |
In the BBC interview, Emily Maitlis asks the prince about Ms Giuffre's claims that in 2001, she had dined with him, danced with him at a nightclub, and went on to have sex with him at the house of a friend of the prince in Belgravia, central London. | In the BBC interview, Emily Maitlis asks the prince about Ms Giuffre's claims that in 2001, she had dined with him, danced with him at a nightclub, and went on to have sex with him at the house of a friend of the prince in Belgravia, central London. |
The prince replied: "It didn't happen. I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever." | |
When asked once more whether he remembered meeting Ms Giuffre, the prince said: "No." | When asked once more whether he remembered meeting Ms Giuffre, the prince said: "No." |
Details of Ms Giuffre's claims against the prince were later officially struck from court records when a judge ruled they were unnecessary to the case, saying they were "immaterial and impertinent" to the "central claim". | Details of Ms Giuffre's claims against the prince were later officially struck from court records when a judge ruled they were unnecessary to the case, saying they were "immaterial and impertinent" to the "central claim". |
Separately, a woman called Johanna Sjoberg alleged that the prince touched her breast while they sat on a couch in Epstein's Manhattan apartment in 2001 in documents from a defamation case. | Separately, a woman called Johanna Sjoberg alleged that the prince touched her breast while they sat on a couch in Epstein's Manhattan apartment in 2001 in documents from a defamation case. |
Buckingham Palace has issued strong denials of all allegations against the prince. | Buckingham Palace has issued strong denials of all allegations against the prince. |
And Prince Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, wrote on Friday that the prince was a "true [and] real gentleman and is stoically steadfast not only [in] his duty but also his kindness". | And Prince Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, wrote on Friday that the prince was a "true [and] real gentleman and is stoically steadfast not only [in] his duty but also his kindness". |
In 2015, a statement from the palace said that "any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors" by the prince was "categorically untrue". | In 2015, a statement from the palace said that "any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors" by the prince was "categorically untrue". |
The prince first met Epstein in 1999 and they saw each other on several occasions after that. | The prince first met Epstein in 1999 and they saw each other on several occasions after that. |
In 2005, the parents of a 14-year-old girl told police in Florida that Epstein had molested their daughter at his Palm Beach home. | In 2005, the parents of a 14-year-old girl told police in Florida that Epstein had molested their daughter at his Palm Beach home. |
Prosecutors forged a deal with Epstein in 2008, which saw him avoid federal charges. | Prosecutors forged a deal with Epstein in 2008, which saw him avoid federal charges. |
He instead received an 18-month prison sentence, during which he was able to go on "work release" to his office for 12 hours a day, six days a week. He was released on probation after 13 months. | He instead received an 18-month prison sentence, during which he was able to go on "work release" to his office for 12 hours a day, six days a week. He was released on probation after 13 months. |
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace in August, the prince said he was "appalled" by the sex abuse claims surrounding his former friend. | In a statement released by Buckingham Palace in August, the prince said he was "appalled" by the sex abuse claims surrounding his former friend. |
The statement added: "His royal highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent." | The statement added: "His royal highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent." |
Discussing how the BBC's interview was secured, Emily Maitlis told Newsnight on Friday that talks with the palace had been ongoing for "many months" and had intensified following Epstein's death. | Discussing how the BBC's interview was secured, Emily Maitlis told Newsnight on Friday that talks with the palace had been ongoing for "many months" and had intensified following Epstein's death. |
She said the prince had to seek the approval of the Queen and that "she gave sign off either late on Monday or very early on Tuesday". | She said the prince had to seek the approval of the Queen and that "she gave sign off either late on Monday or very early on Tuesday". |