Prince Andrew is speaking out for the first time about his former ties to disgraced money manager Jeffrey Epstein in a “no holds barred interview” set to air this weekend.
The Duke of York, 59, spoke to Emily Maitlis of BBC Newsnight in an interview recorded at Buckingham Palace Thursday and set to air Saturday on BBC Two at 9 p.m. local time, or 4 p.m. EST, according to the network.
No clips of the interview have been released in advance.
The interview comes in the wake of explosive claims by Epstein’s alleged teenage sex slave, Virginia Giuffre, that Epstein — who took his own life in his Manhattan lockup over the summer — had coerced her into having sex with Prince Andrew and other powerful men when she was underage.
She claimed in court papers that she had sex with the duke when she was 17, three times — in London, at Epstein’s New York home and at an “orgy” on his private island in the Caribbean.
In a recent interview with “60 Minutes Australia,” Giuffre said Prince Andrew should “go to jail.”
Back in August, the prince shot down any suggestion that he participated in his pedophile pal’s behavior.
“His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behavior is abhorrent,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
The prince has also said he regrets continuing his friendship with Epstein after the convicted pedophile was released from his short prison sentence in 2010.
Additionally, he claimed that his scandalous 2010 trip to see Epstein at his sprawling Upper East Side mansion was actually to end his relationship with the depraved money manager.
The FBI in September expanded its investigation into Epstein in an effort to identify more victims, who may be able to provide more information about the royal’s alleged involvement.
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