Prince Andrew steps back from public duties for ‘foreseeable future’ over Jeffrey Epstein links
Written by News on 20/11/2019
Prince Andrew says he is stepping back from public duties for the “foreseeable future” over his links to billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Duke of York said he “deeply sympathises” with the victims of the disgraced financier and is “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required”.
His statement comes days after the royal’s widely-criticised TV interview which saw Andrew accused of “utterly lacking in compassion” for Epstein’s victims.
In a statement, the duke said: “It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support.
“Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission.
“I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein.
“His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure.
“I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives. Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency.”
Pressure has been mounting in recent days over the royal role of Andrew, the Queen’s second son, after his high-profile interview with BBC Newsnight, which was broadcast on Saturday.
Andrew was accused of failing to show remorse over his friendship with paedophile Epstein, who died in prison earlier this year.
Epstein was awaiting trial accused of trafficking girls as young as 14 for sex and had previously served time in prison in 2008 for prostituting underage girls.
In the interview, Andrew said that Epstein’s house had been “a convenient place to stay” in 2010 when he claimed he went to visit him to end their friendship.
He also denied he had met Virginia Roberts-Giuffre, who claimed she had been trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with a number of his associates, including Andrew, when she was 17.
A Sky News poll found that just 6% of the public believed Andrew’s explanation of his friendship with Epstein.
Firms including telecoms giant BT and bank Barclays are among a number of multimillion-pound businesses, universities and charities which have since distanced themselves from the royal.
Following the Duke’s announcement on Wednesday evening, Sky’s royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills said it was “extraordinary” to have a senior member of the Royal family stepping back from public duties.
“The interview was meant to shut down the noise around this scandal but instead it has blown up around them,” she said.
“You saw a prince unravelling, you saw a prince who came across as arrogant and out of touch. They wanted him to come across as a man with guts and bravery, and that simply did not come across in what became an enormous news moment over the weekend.”
Lisa Bloom, representing five of Epstein’s victims, told Sky News that Andrew’s TV interview was “deeply disappointing”.
She said: “He seems utterly lacking in the compassion and the astonishment that the rest of the world has felt after hearing from Jeffrey Epstein’s victims.”
Earlier this week, a woman who claims to have been trafficked and abused by Epstein called on Andrew to speak to US law officials.
The unnamed woman did not make allegations against Andrew directly, but said the Duke and “any others who are close to Epstein should come forward and give a statement under oath on what information they have”.
More follows…
(c) Sky News 2019: Prince Andrew steps back from public duties for ‘foreseeable future’ over Jeffrey Epstein links
