His first interview about Jeffrey Epstein was a car crash, but according to reports, Prince Andrew may be ready for round two. Photo / BBC
His first interview about Jeffrey Epstein was a car crash, but according to reports, Prince Andrew may be ready for round two. Photo / BBC
Prince Andrew's BBC interview addressing his history with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein copped widespread backlash for being a total train wreck, but reports suggest the royal is considering sitting down for another round.
The Duke of York intended on setting the record straight about his highly publicised friendship with disgraced billionairewhile also watering down allegations he had slept with one of Epstein's "sex slaves" Virginia Roberts when she was 17.
But the Newsnight interview, which aired on Sunday, quickly became infamous, with Prince Andrew savaged for excruciating excuses and showing a lack of sympathy for Epstein's many victims, reports News.com.au.
Vanity Fair reports the Duke is considering doing another interview to settle the uproar despite Buckingham Palace claiming it was "not aware" of anything in place.
"There are rumours swirling that Andrew wants to do another interview," royal reporter Katie Nicholl credits a royal source as saying. "Andrew hasn't drawn a line under it. He wants the chance to put right the things he didn't say.
"Newsnight gave him the chance to show some remorse. He was asked if there was anything else he wanted to say. It was an open goal — he didn't grasp it, and I think he sees that now."
Virginia Roberts, the woman at the centre of the sex allegations. Photo / Supplied
According to The Sun, the Prince was forced to scrap a visit to flood-stricken villages as he was summoned to "crisis talks" at Buckingham Palace.
The Queen was said to have given her blessing for Andrew to conduct the first interview with BBC journalist Emily Maitlis, however given the furore, it is unlikely she would grant approval again.
It's a lesson the royal family has struggled to learn, with past TV interviews causing trouble for the monarchy.
Prince Charles's interview with TV journalist Jonathan Dimbleby in 1994, in which he confessed to being unfaithful to his wife Princess Diana, earned global backlash and brought severe scrutiny on the family.
Weeks ago, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's stripped-back interviews with ITV would have been detrimental to the crown after raising concerns about the Duchess's mental health and Harry's fractured relationship with his brother, Prince William.
This kind of insight goes against the Queen's mantra of the stiff upper lip and carrying on.
Despite this, a royal expert told Vanity Fair the royal family was famous for sticking by each other during rough times.
"It's the Queen's modus operandi to stick together in times of trouble," the Queen's biographer Sarah Gristwood said.
"She won't have any breaking of the ranks, and that's irrespective of whether Andrew is the favourite son. That said, this must be stretching it because what he's done is the least welcome thing anyone could do to their mother, especially at the age of 93.
"He has let the side down. Everything he said in that interview was couched in the wrong terms."
