Duke ‘eager to clarify facts’ Britain
The Duke of York has broken his silence over his involvement with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying he never had any suspicions about his behaviour or saw him do anything illegal.
The duke, through a signed statement issued by Buckingham Palace, stated ‘‘at no stage during the limited time I spent with [the disgraced financier] did I see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction’’.
In response to media speculation, he added: ‘‘I am eager to clarify the facts ... I met Mr Epstein in 1999.
‘‘During the time I knew him, I saw him infrequently and probably no more than only once or twice a year.
‘‘I have stayed in a number of his residences.
‘‘At no stage during the limited time I spent with him did I see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction.’’
The duke, who was photographed in 2010 walking with Epstein in Central Park, New York – two years after the financier pleaded guilty to procuring an underage girl for prostitution – added: ‘‘I have said previously that it was a mistake and an error to see him after his release in 2010 and I can only reiterate my regret ... given what we now know. I have tremendous sympathy for all those affected by his actions and behaviour. His suicide has left many unanswered questions and I acknowledge and sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure.’’
He continued: ‘‘I am at a loss to be able to understand or explain Mr Epstein’s lifestyle. I deplore the exploitation of any human being and would not
condone, participate in, or encourage any such behaviour.’’
There are likely to be more calls for the prince to give his version of events to US authorities investigating Epstein following his suicide earlier this month.
The can reveal that the duke has told friends he has no recollection of ever meeting Virginia Roberts, now Virginia Giuffre, the woman who accuses him of having sex with her when she was just 17.–