Published 11:35 IST, November 18th 2019
Prince Andrew's recent interview called 'nuclear explosion level bad'
The 3rd child of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew has been facing a lot of negative criticism over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
- World News
- 3 min read
The Duke of York and the third child of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew has been facing a lot of criticism over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. His recent interview with an international media outlet is said to be “nuclear explosion level bad”. During the interview, Prince Andrew reportedly claimed that he did not know Epstein hoping that it would stop the flow of negative press coverage that the prince has been facing. He claims that he was clueless about the charges against Epstein and nothing had struck him as suspicious when he was around.
The royal watchers such as Charlie Proctor who is the editor of the Royal Central Website described the interview as ill-judged and excruciating. Dickie Arbiter, the queen's former press secretary also added that if the prince thought he has drawn a line in the sand over the whole incident, he was 'in cuckoo land'.
Prince Andrew denies allegations
Epstein died by apparent suicide back in August while awaiting trial on federal charges that he sexually abused underage girls and ran a sex trafficking ring. Prince Andrew has been criticized over his links to multimillionaire Epstein. The US financier has been accused by Virginia Roberts Giuffre as she alleged that she was forced into sexual encounters with the prince while underage. Back in 2015, Giuffre reportedly alleged that Epstein forced her to perform sex acts with several prominent men, including Prince Andrew in 2001. However, the prince told the interviewer that he had no recollection of ever meeting Giuffre and has denied all the allegations.
The interview is the first time that the prince had addressed questions over the Epstein controversy. Earlier, the Buckingham Palace also issued a statement denying the claims and calling them “false without foundation”. The statement read, “His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behavior is abhorrent”.
(With agency inputs)
Updated 12:37 IST, November 18th 2019