Prince Andrew steps down from public duties following disastrous BBC interview

The Duke of York’s decision to step retire from public life has failed to contain the firestorm surrounding his longstanding links with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Prince Andrew’s effective resignation from public life came four days after his disastrous BBC Newsnight interview with the veteran journalist Emily Maitlis.

In order to undo some of the damage himself, the Prince has said in a statement issued by Buckingham Palace that he was willing to help law enforcement agencies in their investigations if required” over the US probe into Epstein.

In his three-paragraph statement released on Wednesday, November 20, he also expressed regret for his “ill-judged association” with Epstein, who was accused of sex trafficking and who subsequently killed himself in a Manhattan jail in August.

“His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for the victims,” Prince Andrew wrote.

Gloria Allred, who represents some of Epstein’s victims, has demanded that the Duke of York put himself forward to be interviewed by US investigators "without conditions and without delay".

The pressure on the duke, 59, was ratcheted up on Monday when a fresh Epstein accuser claimed during a press conference in Los Angeles that the financier committed a “vicious, prolonged sexual assault” against her when she was 15.

She is one of about a dozen women suing the late financier’s estate for alleged sexual abuses.

The main accusation against the duke is that he had had sex with Virginia Roberts-Giuffre.

In August, Roberts-Giuffre accused the Prince of having sex with her, three times, when she was 17 years old and that she had been offered to him by Epstein. However, under persistent questioning by Maitlis, the Prince insisted he had “no recollection” of meeting her.

There are also demands on Prince Andrew to shed more light on the nature and extent of Epstein’s relationship with Ghislaine Maxwell, the daughter of the disgraced media mogul, Robert Maxwell.

Ghislaine Maxwell – who is a British citizen – is accused of acting as a pimp for Epstein by procuring underage girls for his sexual gratification.

In view of Esptein’s extensive political connections – he was reportedly connected to the most powerful people in the US, including President Donald Trump – there is speculation that he may have been the victim of foul play.

The Daily Mail reported yesterday that Buckingham Palace was hoping that the interview would “draw a line" under the allegations against him, but it has mutated into a full-blown scandal, one that has eclipsed the British general election on the front pages of virtually all media websites and newspapers..

The gravity of the situation has hit home at Buckingham Palace as the Royal family's brand has been deeply damaged across the globe by one of its most senior members, the Queen's second and supposedly favourite son. 

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk