Emily Maitlis 'spots something new' in Prince Andrew interview as 'glorious irony' exposed

Emily Maitlis admits she has recently "spotted something new" when watching her interview with Prince Andrew. The 55-year-old's interview with Andrew on Newsnight in 2019 led to his stepping back from public life and handing back his royal titles.

The interview covered Andrew's infamous friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as well as allegations from Virginia Giuffre. Andrew told Maitlis that he "never had any further contact with" Epstein after their widely publicized walk in New York's Central Park in December 2010. He claimed he wanted to speak to the financier in person in order to cut ties, as a phone call would have been the "chickens way out".

Moments later the prince tells Ms Maitlis that he stayed with Epstein for four days and attended his house parties because his "judgment was probably coloured by [his] tendency to be too honourable".

Writing in the The Times, Ms Maitlis says she has recently watched the Newsnight interview again. It comes after he gave up his Duke of York title and his membership of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in Britain, as his ties to Epstein continue to come under fire.

The journalist says she has spotted a moment of "glorious irony" during one part of their interview. She wrote: "This time, however, I spot something new. Andrew is explaining to me his argument to Epstein, for why the friendship had to end. And inadvertently admits what is on his mind.

"'I said, 'With all the attendant scrutiny on me then I don't think it's a wise thing to do.' In other words, he's more worried about 'being seen' than about the friendship itself.

"I have no idea if that conversation with Epstein ever took place. But it lends itself to a glorious irony: that the man who couldn't risk being seen with a sex offender was being snapped by the News of the World in a public park as he spoke."

Correspondence published in the Mail on Sunday and Sun on Sunday last week appeared to show that King Charles's younger brother and Epstein maintained contact after 2010. On February 28, 2011, Andrew is said to have emailed Epstein asking him to "keep in close touch" and expressed a wish to "play some more soon".

Epstein took his own life in prison in 2019. A posthumous memoir from Ms Giuffre, who died earlier this year, is set to cast further attention on Andrew's ties with Epstein.

Announcing his decision to hand back his Duke of York title last week, Andrew said: "In discussion with the King, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the Royal Family," said a statement from Prince Andrew.

"I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first.I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.

"With His Majesty's agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me."