Royals deny Andrew exploitation
● Epstein accuser’s first British TV interview to be broadcast
Buckingham Palace has rejected claims that the Duke of York exploited his role as UK trade envoy.
A royal spokesman said Prince Andrew’s ten-year stint as the UK’S special representative for international trade and investment was solely to promote British interests.
Buckingham Palace has insisted that the Duke of York was promoting British interests and “not the interests of individuals” amid claims he exploited his role as UK trade envoy.
British media reports have alleged Andrew had conflicts of interest between multi-millionaire property developer David Rowland, described as his “close friend”, and his role as the UK’S special representative for international trade and investment.
But a royal spokesman said the duke’s 10-year stint in the role was solely to promote British interests.
He said: “The Duke of York was the UK’S special representative for international trade and investment between 2001 and July 2011 and in that time the aim, and that of his office, was to promote Britain and British interests overseas not the interests of individuals.”
Former Commons foreign affairs committee member Chris Bryant, who was in office when the duke held the role, said his former committee or the public accounts committee should launch an inquiry.
It comes after Andrew stepped down from public duties in the wake of his disastrous television interview about his association with disgraced American financier Jeffrey Epstein, who took his own life in jail this year while facing sex trafficking charges.
During the interview, which was widely criticised, Andrew said his relationship with Epstein gave him the opportunity to meet people and help prepare for the official role. The duke stepped aside as trade envoy in 2011 after it became public he had stayed with Epstein following the convicted sex offender’s release from jail in the US.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of 16 women who say they were abused by Epstein, claims she was forced into a sexual encounter with Andrew – an allegation he strenuously denies.
In another blow for the duke, Ms Giuffre’s first UK television interview is to be broadcast today.
A Panaroma programme entitled The Prince and the Epstein Scandal will see Ms Giuffre tell her story and reveal new details about her time with Epstein, the BBC said.
Ms Giuffre claims the duke slept with her on three occasions, twice while she was underage.
The palace branded the allegations “false and without any foundation”, stating “any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors” by the duke was “categorically untrue”.
As the scandals surrounding Andrew escalate, he has stepped down from public duties indefinitely.
He has been dropped as patron by several organisations, and corporate partners in his organisations such as the Pitch@palace entrepreneurship scheme have been scrambling to cut ties with the embattled duke.