Prince Andrew says he ‘let the royal family down’ over his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein

Prince Andrew spoke for the first time in a "no holds barred" interview with BBC about his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke of York said in the interview with BBC Two’s Newsnight programme that he has "let the side down" over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. 

The second son of Queen Elizabeth said his stay at the home of Epstein was not "becoming of a member of the Royal Family".

During the interview, filmed at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, the duke faced questions about his links with the disgraced financier who was found dead in a New York jail cell in August. The 66-year-old was being held on sex trafficking charges at the time of his death.

Prince Andrew maintained his friendship with Epstein even after he had been convicted for the prostitution of minors. Andrew and Epstein were photographed together in Central Park after the American businessman had been convicted in 2010.

Speaking about this, the duke said his ongoing relationship with Epstein, following his release from an 18-month prison term, "let the side down" for the royal family. 

He said: "I stayed with him … and that’s the bit that … I kick myself for on a daily basis because it was not something that was becoming of a member of the royal family and we try and uphold the highest standards and practices and I let the side down, simple as that."

He also addressed Virginia Roberts Giuffre's claim that at age 17, she was coerced by paedophile US businessman Jeffrey Epstein into having sex with Prince Andrew on three occasions, in London, New York and the US Virgin Islands. She claimed in court documents that on the final occasion she also had "sex with Andy... in an orgy" involving nine young women.  

Reacting to this in the BBC interview, Prince Andrew claimed that he has "no recollection" of meeting the woman

Andrew told the BBC: "I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever."

Presenter Emily Maitlis probed the duke over claims made by Mrs Giuffre that "she met you in 2001, she says she dined with you, danced with you at Tramp Nightclub in London. She went on to have sex with you in a house in Belgravia".

Ms Maitlis added: "You don’t remember meeting her?"

Andrew replied: "No." 

The full interview, Prince Andrew And The Epstein Scandal: The Newsnight Interview, will air on BBC Two at 9pm on Saturday.

Watch the video below.