Prince Andrew has sensationally quit pubic life for the ‘for the foreseeable future’ due to his links with disgraced billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
In a statement today the Duke of York said it had “become clear” to him that “my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work.”
And he expressed sympathy for the victims of the convicted sex offender and disgraced financier, saying he “hoped they could rebuild their lives.”
And he announced he was “willing” to help “any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations”.
He has asked his mother, The Queen, for permission to step down after his widely-criticised TV interview with the BBC over his relationship with billionaire paedophile Epstein.
Her Majesty is said to have approved the extraordinary statement.
(Image: Getty Images)
In a statement, the Duke said: “It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support.
“Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission.
“I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein.
(Image: REX/Shutterstock)
“His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure.
“I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives. Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required.”
His announcement comes as the fall-out from his Newsnight interview continues.
(Image: New York State Sex Offender Regi)
ITV Royal correspondent Chris Ship notes how Prince Andrew’s statement about his friendship with Epstein differs from comments made in the interview.
He told Emily Maitlis on Saturday that he did not regret his friendship with Epstein because of “‘the opportunities I was given to learn” from him about trade and business.
But in his statement he now he talks of continuing “unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein”.
On Monday it was reported that Andrew “regrets not expressing sympathy” for the victims of Epstein during the car-crash interview on Saturday night.
The Duke of York said he has “great sympathy” for the victims of the billionaire paedophile.
The Prince suggested it hadn’t seemed necessary to vocalise his sympathy for those abused by Epstein, according to the report by Mail Online.
“I regret that I didn’t make it clear in the interview that I have great sympathy for anyone who was abused by Jeffrey Epstein,” he reportedly told friends yesterday.
“When I said I was shocked I thought that was implicit. In 2010 none of us had any idea of the extent of his wrongdoing.”
However that appears to contradict another report in the Sun which claims a ‘close friend’ said the Duke told the Queen at church on Sunday ‘it’s all been a great success’.
Several charity partners of the Duke have split from him this week following the interview.
Firms including telecoms giant BT and bank Barclays are among a number of multimillion-pound businesses, universities and charities which have distanced themselves from the Prince.
Andrew’s initiative for tech entrepreneurs, Pitch@Palace, has removed its web page listing corporate supporters, and the Outward Bound Trust, which has a long association with the royal family, is considering the duke’s role as patron.
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The Duke of York founded the mentoring programme in 2014 to help the work of start-up entrepreneurs across the UK.
The Financial Times reported that one prominent backer of Pitch@Palace is pushing for the Queen’s son to relinquish his association with the scheme.
BT warned today it would only continue to back digital skills award scheme iDEA if the duke was dropped as patron.
(Image: PA)
Murdoch University in Perth, Australia told Buckingham Palace it would not be continuing participation in Pitch@Palace in 2020.
Two days ago major consultancy firm KPMG was revealed to have chosen not to renew its sponsorship of the Pitch@Palace intiative.
A source at KPMG said it “made the decision following adverse press scrutiny around Prince Andrew”.
A KPMG spokesperson told the Mirror that it would not comment officially on the matter.
(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
Epstein was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges when he died in prison earlier this year, having previously pleaded guilty to paying to have sex with a girl below the age of 18.
The Duke is said to “deeply” regret his friendship with the financier, a source told the Mail, though he said the opposite in the 45 minute interview and actually praised the “opportunities” the relationship gave him.
“As a father, he totally condemns any exploitation of vulnerable young women,” the source is quoted as saying.
The Prince has received the anonymous support from his friends the day after the interview aired.
For some, he appeared less than conciliatory during the BBC Newsnight special.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
At one point he described his relationship with Epstein as “seriously beneficial” because it gave him the opportunity to meet people and help prepare for a future role as a trade envoy.
The comment led Green Party co-leader Sian Berry to suggest he was “not a very empathetic interview” and Catherine Mayer, founder of the Women’s Equality Party, to say he was “too stupid to even pretend concern for his victims.”
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