ROYAL RESPONDS
Prince Andrew breaks his silence on Jeffrey Epstein
THE DUKE OF YORK HAS WEIGHED in on the Jeffrey Epstein underage sex scandal, revealing he is “appalled” by the allegations. His statement comes after images emerged of Prince Andrew inside Epstein’s $166 million mansion on Manhattan’s Upper East Side nine years ago. According to The Sun, the royal was spotted at the nine-storey home – dubbed the House of Horrors by many of Epstein’s victims – shortly after the wealthy financier was seen leaving on December 6, 2010.
At the time, Epstein – who committed suicide in his prison cell on August 10 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges
– had already been placed on the child sex offender’s register.
Prince Andrew spoke after missing the Sunday Service with his mother the Queen on August 18 at Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral. The royal’s absence appeared abnormal as he was pictured in high spirits with Her Majesty last week, The Sun reported.
In an official statement obtained by
The Daily Telegraph, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “The Duke of York has been appalled by the recent reports of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes.
“His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent.”
Photos released by the Mail on Sunday show the Duke peering out of the front door of Epstein’s home on New York’s East 91st Street, waving to a young woman.
Among the victims making claims against him was Virginia Roberts (now known as Virginia Giuffre), who has said Epstein once used her as a sex slave. In direct response, the royal’s spokesman strictly believes he had no affiliation with Roberts.“It is emphatically denied that The Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts. Any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation.”