The interview Prince Andrew gave to the BBC was a breaking point as a royal. The Duke of York had to resign from his royal duties because of his links to the late Jeffrey Epstein, who was arrested on federal child trafficking charges in Florida and New York.
The son of Queen Elizabeth was denounced by Virginia Giuffre, who accused the Duke of having had sexual relations with her when he was only 17 years old, something that Prince Andrew has always denied.
Article summary
Prince Andrew BBC interview
To try to clear his name the brother of King Charles gave an interview to journalist Emily Maitlis for BBC’s Newsnight. In the conversation Andrew talked about Epstein and Virginia Giuffre’s accusations.
The consequences of the 50-minute interview were devastating and even labeled as a “disaster” because of the Duke’s controversial phrases.
Did he have sex with Virginia Giuffre, the woman who accused him of being a ‘sexual abuser’? Did he receive a foot massage from a young Russian woman at Epstein’s mansion? Why did he think it was a good idea to stay at the tycoon’s house when he had already been convicted of sex crimes, were some of the questions asked by Maitlis.
These are some of Prince Andrew’s controversial phrases:
- “I tend to be too honorable:” He said when trying to explain why he was photographed with Epstein in Central Park, New York. He stated that his intention was to tell the mogul in person that they could no longer see each other.
- “I don’t regret my friendship with Epstein”: The reporter asked Prince Andrew if he regretted being friends with Epstein or if he thinks it was a mistake. Prince Andrew denied it twice.
- “I don’t sweat”: was his response when questioned about the statement of Virgina Giuffre who said that while dancing with the prince he sweated a lot. He claimed “a peculiar medical condition” he contracted during the Falklands War that prevented him from sweating, but that he no longer has it.
- “I was at a Pizza Express”: The most controversial of his statements was the one in which he said it was impossible that he was with Virgina Giuffre because on the day of the alleged sexual encounter, he was at a pizzeria with one of his daughters. When the journalist asked him why he remembered that specific piece of information, he replied that it is “unusual” for him to go to that pizzeria and that is why he remembers the date exactly.
- “I do not remember the photo at all”: About the photo with Virginia and that went around the world, the duke simply replied that he did not remember it, although he did assure that it is indeed him.
After the broadcast of “Prince Andrew & the Epstein Scandal: The Newsnight Interview”, Prince Andrew issued a statement announcing his decision to “retire from public duties”.
In addition to his resignation, Queen Elizabeth II stripped him of his military honors and patronage in 2022, months later he reached a settlement with Giuffre to avoid going to court.
Netflix movie Scoop
This week it was announced that Netflix is preparing a film called ‘Scoop’ that will focus on the Duke of York’s controversial interview.
Gillian Anderson, who won a Golden Globe and Emmy for playing Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Crown, will play Maitlis, the BBC presenter.
In the part of Prince Andrew will be Rufus Sewell, known for his roles in The Illusionist, A Knight’s Tale and The Man in the High Castle.
The film will focus on how the BBC’s Newsnight team got the scoop, then the filming and why the Duke agreed to do it.
Philip Martin, a British TV director and screenwriter who worked on The Crown, will direct the project.
Gillian Anderson, Keeley Hawes, Billie Piper and Rufus Sewell will star in SCOOP – a film based on Sam McAlister’s memoir giving the inside account of Newsnight’s bombshell interview with Prince Andrew. pic.twitter.com/OibWwtrTio
— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) February 7, 2023
