In a stunning revelation that threatens to reignite the royal scandal, former BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis has claimed Prince Andrew deliberately lied about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during their landmark 2019 interview.
The journalist, who conducted the now-infamous sit-down at Buckingham Palace, alleges the Duke of York was fully aware he was misleading the British public about the extent of his connections to the disgraced financier.
The Palace Interview That Shook the Monarchy
Maitlis's explosive claims emerge in her forthcoming book, which details the behind-the-scenes preparations for what would become one of the most disastrous royal interviews in modern history. The encounter, watched by millions globally, saw Prince Andrew offer increasingly implausible explanations for his association with Epstein.
'There was no sweating' - the Duke famously claimed, despite photographic evidence showing him with his arm around Virginia Giuffre, who alleges she was forced to have sex with him three times when she was 17.
A Carefully Constructed Narrative
According to Maitlis, the Prince and his team approached the interview as an opportunity to control the narrative rather than provide honest answers. The journalist suggests Andrew's team had prepared responses that carefully avoided addressing the most serious allegations.
The interview ultimately proved catastrophic for the Royal, leading to his withdrawal from public duties and ongoing legal battles that resulted in an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre, though he continued to deny any wrongdoing.
Fallout and Lasting Consequences
The aftermath of the interview continues to reverberate through the Royal Family, with Prince Andrew effectively exiled from royal life and stripped of his military affiliations and royal patronages. Maitlis's new claims suggest the damage could have been mitigated had the Duke been more truthful during their conversation.
This latest development raises fresh questions about accountability within the monarchy and the ongoing efforts to rehabilitate Prince Andrew's public image.
