Britain's Prince Andrew admits in an interview with the BBC due to be broadcast on Saturday that his decision to remain friends with Epstein after he was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008 was a serious error of judgement. The Prince, however, does say that he does not remember meeting Virginia Roberts, one of disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein's alleged victims, who says she was forced to have sex with the royal.
"I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever," Andrew told BBC interviewer Emily Maitlis, according to extracts from 'Prince Andrew and the Epstein Scandal' released ahead of the programme's broadcast.
Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II has been heavily criticised over his links to multimillionaire Epstein, who died in custody in the US in August.
An image was released in August showing Prince Andrew with his arm around then 17-year-old Roberts, now Giuffre, and with Epstein's friend Ghislaine Maxwell standing in the background. The picture was followed by Guiffre accusing the prince of groping her. She also said she was forced to sleep with the Prince by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Supporters of Andrew, however, have disputed authenticity of the allegations. The Prince has strongly denied these allegations too.
The former wife of the Prince, Duchess Fergie has taken to Twitter to show her support to ex-husband with a glowing character description.
“It is so rare to meet people that are able to speak from their hearts with honesty+pure real truth, that remains steadfast and strong to their beliefs. Andrew is a true+real gentleman and is stoically steadfast to not only his duty but also his kindness + goodness @TheDukeOfYork,” she wrote.
“I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever,” said Prince Andrew in the interview. The interview is scheduled to broadcast at 10 pm British time.
In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to procuring a girl under the age of 18 for prostitution and served 13 months in US prison before being released on probation.
“I stayed with him and that's... that's... that's the bit that... that... that, as it were, I kick myself for on a daily basis, Andrew said in the interview, expressing his regret for having remained friends with Epstein even after his conviction.
Epstein, 66, was arrested in New York in July on charges of trafficking underage girls for sex. A coroner ruled that he committed suicide by hanging.
Epstein has hobnobbed with politicians, socialites and celebrities, including Donald Trump before he was president, and Bill Clinton.
In August, Giuffre, who says she was abused by Epstein for years and farmed out to his wealthy friends including Andrew, said: “the reckoning must not end, it must continue”.
“He knows exactly what he's done and I hope he comes clean about it,” she told reporters after a US hearing on August 27 at which other alleged victims of Epstein including also described how they were abused.
Guiffre has filed a lawsuit in the US accusing Epstein of using her as a “sex slave”. Buckingham Palace has strenuously denied the claims, calling them “false and without foundation”.
The BBC interview is the first time that Andrew has addressed questions over the Epstein controversy.
In August, Buckingham Palace stated after a video was released purporting to show Andrew at the home of Epstein in 2010.
