King Charles' 'further embarrassment' over Prince Andrew amid release of A Very Royal Scandal

The Duke of York's notorious Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis is once again under the spotlight, this time in a second high-profile TV drama within less than a year. Amazon Prime's new three-part series, A Very Royal Scandal, delves into the events leading up to and following Prince Andrew's controversial interview where he was questioned about his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

This fresh series, hot on the heels of Netflix's Scoop released back in April, revisits the saga as a top royal expert examines why Prince Andrew remains the "problem that refuses to go away", causing further "embarrassment" for King Charles and the rest of the Royal Family, reports OK!

READ MORE: A Very Royal Scandal lays bare Prince Andrew's 'horrible' question to Emily Maitlis

As the show hits the screens, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond explains how the Firm might react to the interview resurfacing in the news. "Andrew really is the problem that refuses to go away," Jennie comments. "I'm sure the King, and indeed Andrew, wish the interview had never taken place, even though Andrew was so pleased with it immediately after the filming."

Discussing how this show differs from Netflix's Scoop, Jennie suggests that Emily Maitlis' involvement is key. "As Emily was so involved with this show as opposed to the last one it's getting much more publicity than I imagined it would. It promises to fill in quite a few blanks around the making of the interview and Andrew's demeanour before, during and afterwards. I don't imagine the King will watch it, but he will be made aware of its contents and any repercussions I'm sure. It's bound to be a further embarrassment for all concerned."

During her chat on LBC about the drama where she took the helm as executive producer, Emily lauded Michael Sheen's portrayal, remarking: "He takes it away from anything that looks like comedy villain, anything that looks like a sort of slam dunk idiocy. He's not."

She depicted Andrew as "a father figure, an approachable dad, a loyal ex-husband... and a devoted son and a former hero", highlighting his return "to adoration" after his stint as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands war.

Reflecting on the period leading up to the notorious interview, Emily shared with LBC her empathy for Andrew "on a human level", despite the serious accusations against him. She confessed: "I feel uncomfortable at moments, and I feel concerned, and I think I'm also conscious... that it's not just the ramifications [for] Andrew, it's everyone around him.. it's the loyalties to others and the women in his immediate periphery, as well as, of course, to the Epstein victims that [are] the heart of this story."

In the aftermath, Emily expressed her concern about the interview gaining so much attention without any legal repercussions. "We don't actually have closure," she shared on the programme. "We didn't get a trial. We did this forensic interview, which could be used as a document of public record, but it actually never... went to court... we will never know."

"None of the Epstein victims ever, as it were, got their moment to hold Epstein to account. And... one of them clearly laid charges at allegations at Andrew as well. And so there's always that sense of unfinished business, which I think... naturally makes you ask more questions".