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Prince Andrew speaks to BBC about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein Prince Andrew interview: I let the side down by staying with Jeffrey Epstein
(about 4 hours later)
The Duke of York has answered questions about his links to Jeffrey Epstein for the first time, in a BBC interview. The Duke of York has said he "let the side down" by staying at the home of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
He spoke to BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis in an interview recorded at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. 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".
Maitlis said it was a "no holds barred interview", which will be broadcast on BBC Two at 21:00 GMT on Saturday. The prince spoke to BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis in an interview recorded at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.
The duke faces serious claims over his ties to the 66-year-old US financier, who took his own life while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. It will be broadcast on BBC Two at 21:00 GMT on Saturday.
Prince Andrew 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.
Footage published by the Mail on Sunday showed the prince in Epstein's Manhattan mansion around 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."
'No recollection'
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 duke three times between 1999 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 1999 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's law. At the time she was under-age according to Florida state law.
The details were later officially struck from the court records when a judge ruled they were unnecessary to the case, saying they were "immaterial and impertinent" to the "central claim". 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.
A risky but necessary interview The prince replied: "I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever."
It's a sign of how bad things are for Prince Andrew and his reputation that he has chosen to give an interview like this. This is not a fireside chat with an old family friend. This is a long, and presumably, forensic interview with one of the BBC's best. When asked once more whether he remembered meeting Ms Giuffre, the prince said: "No."
Members of the Royal family give very few interviews; they try to maintain a line between their public lives, which follow an order and a pattern that rarely raise questions, and their private lives, which attract much attention but are ruled out-of-bounds by the Palace. What comes next?
When they do talk about their private lives, it is generally huge news - Princess Diana damning her marriage and describing her misery, Prince Charles admitting his infidelity, Harry and Meghan speaking of how hard their lives have seemed since the wedding. There is of course a lot more to come - so far we've had two short excerpts from a half-hour interview.
The debate over whether Prince Andrew should give an interview will have been long and vigorous. So many questions have been stonewalled for so long, with the Prince's right to privacy given as the reason. By sitting down with the BBC, he has waived that right. It seems like a huge risk. But the Prince and his advisers have judged that the risk of saying nothing is greater. But on the biggest question facing the prince - the allegation that he had sex with the 17-year-old Virginia Roberts, now Giuffre - the categorical denial that some might have expected or hoped for simply isn't there.
Separately, a woman called Johanna Sjoberg alleged that the duke touched her breast while they sat on a couch in Epstein's Manhattan apartment in 2001 in documents from a defamation case. Instead the prince says he has "no recollection of ever meeting" Ms Giuffre. It's odd because for years the Palace has issued a straightforward denial that the Prince has any relationship or sexual contact with her.
Buckingham Palace has issued strong denials of all allegations against the duke. Now the prince says he simply can't remember.
In 2015 a statement said that "any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors" by the duke was "categorically untrue". It's a defence - memorably used by US President Ronald Reagan in the Iran-Contra affair - that's bound to raise some people's suspicions. We will have to wait and see if he is challenged about the photo that shows the Prince with his arm around her bare midriff.
The duke first met Epstein in 1999 and they saw each other on several occasions after that. As to staying in Epstein's house after his friend had been convicted of child sex offences, judging by his hesitant response he is horribly embarrassed by the whole thing. He let the side down, he says.
One can only wonder what comes next in this astonishing interview.
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.
Buckingham Palace has issued strong denials of all allegations against the prince.
In 2015 a statement 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.
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 led to him avoiding 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 2010, the duke was photographed walking with Epstein in New York's central park - two years after the financier's first conviction. In a statement released by Buckingham Palace in August, the prince said he was "appalled" by the sex abuse claims surrounding his former friend.
Video footage, released by the Mail on Sunday, shows the duke inside Epstein's Manhattan mansion around the same time.
In a statement released by Buckingham Palace in August, the duke 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."