Car crash interview has damaged the prince and monarchy
WHEN historians look back on 2019, Prince Philip’s problems behind the wheel will be consigned to no more than a cursory look back in the rearview mirror.
Although his collision while out driving in January was big news at the time, the car crash everyone will remember is the moment his son single-handily drove the Royal family off a cliff.
In a staggering act of self-destruction, the effects of which go far beyond just his position, Prince Andrew broke his silence to finally discuss his friendship with his paedophile pal, Jeffrey Epstein.
It came eight years after Virginia Giuffre first claimed in a US court she had been loaned out to the Duke for sex by the pervert American billionaire on three separate occasions. While Andrew hoped the interview with BBC Newsnight would draw a line under the seedy accusations, which he denies, he instead has left himself open to further humiliation and could face being grilled by the FBI.
Andrew’s rejections of sex accuser Giuffre’s allegations were ambiguous at best while his excuses as to why he befriended the late paedophile were paper thin.
Throughout the entire excruciating interview, which in his delusion he thought had gone well, he never once showed empathy for Epstein’s dozens of victims.
Instead, he choose to describe the behaviour of his pal – a serial sex beast – as merely being “unbecoming”.
The Duke denied ever having sex with Giuffre, claiming to have no recollection of ever meeting her or putting his arm around the then 17-year-old’s bare waist despite the moment being captured on camera.
His loss of memory over meeting his accuser came despite sworn testimony of others describing how they were together with Epstein on the pervert’s private plane and in the American’s New York mansion.
Arrogant Andy chose to question all accusations against him while claiming the picture of him grinning inanely with Giuffree in London could have been faked.
He went on to use his own daughter to provide an alibi as his memory suddenly returned to say on the night in question in March 2001 he was at Pizza Express in Woking and then at home with Beatrice.
Amid all his bluff and bluster, the Duke only proceeded to turn the court of public opinion further against him.
While for the Palace, the interview with Emily Maitlis was a disaster, it was an early Christmas gift for his detractors. He ploughed on with ill-prepared answers to questions from a journalist who came armed with details, dates and intelligent insights.
What was meant to draw a line under a decade-long saga of tawdry allegations and dodgy denials have destroyed the Duke’s already damaged public image.
Andrew believed his title provides him with immunity from scrutiny no matter how terrible his choices are.
His attitude that he is above the law has poured great shame on the Royals at a time when they are under the microscope.
I, for one, am a fan of the monarchy, none more than the Queen herself.
No one has been a greater force for good than her majesty yet while she has been a beacon of light among the royals, Andrew has brought darkness to their door.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
ABritish beautician was jailed in the US for a year after performing a botched bum lift using silicone she bought off eBay. Donna Francis was sentenced to a year after she pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide after Kelly Mayhew died from the “butt lift” injections.
New York Judge Kenneth Holder was forced to hand down a light sentence under an extradition agreement brokered between America and the United Kingdom.
The 39-year-old fled back to Britain after the crime and refused to leave until she received the deal.
Judge Kenneth told the fake plastic surgeon: “What the family is not getting, in my opinion, is justice.
“If you have a conscience, this is going to haunt you much longer than the one-year sentence you’re going to serve.”
Unlike the tragic case of Harry Dunn, who died after allegedly being hit by a car driven by the wife of a US diplomat who used her diplomatic immunity to avoid prosecution, the British courts should be commended for shipping Francis back to the States to face justice.
But such deals to limit punishment in return are simply wrong.
As Judge Holder said, I have to say that the phrase ‘getting away with murder’ certainly applies to Francis.
Amid all his bluff the Duke only proceeded to turn the court of public opinion further against him.