Prince Andrew's BBC Interview: What He Said and What Followed

What Happened

On November 16, 2019, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, sat for a televised interview with BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis at Buckingham Palace, according to the BBC. The interview — described by the BBC as having been arranged without conditions or prior review of questions — focused on Prince Andrew's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and allegations made by Virginia Giuffre.

Prince Andrew has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing. He has not been criminally charged in connection with the Epstein case.

Key Statements from the Interview

According to the BBC transcript of the interview:

On his relationship with Epstein:

Prince Andrew described meeting Epstein through Ghislaine Maxwell in 1999
He acknowledged visiting Epstein's New York home in 2010, after Epstein's 2008 conviction, saying he went to end the friendship in person
He described the 2010 visit as "the wrong decision" and said it was "not something that was becoming of a member of the royal family"

On Virginia Giuffre's allegations:

He stated he had "no recollection of ever meeting this lady"
He questioned the authenticity of a widely circulated photograph showing him with Giuffre, saying he had "no memory" of the photo being taken
He denied the specific allegations made by Giuffre in legal proceedings

On Epstein's conduct:

He stated: "Do I regret the fact that he has quite obviously conducted himself in a manner unbecoming? Yes."
He said he had not witnessed any behavior that would have raised concerns during his time as a guest of Epstein

Public Reaction

The interview was widely covered and analyzed by media organizations. According to reporting by Reuters, the Associated Press, and the BBC itself:

Media commentators broadly characterized the interview as damaging to Prince Andrew's public reputation
Several organizations and institutions reportedly began reconsidering their associations with Prince Andrew in the days following the broadcast
The interview was described by multiple outlets as a communications failure, with public relations experts calling it "ill-advised"

Why It Matters

The BBC interview is significant in the context of the Epstein case for several reasons:

On-the-record statements: It provided the most extensive public comments Prince Andrew has made about his relationship with Epstein and the allegations against him
Catalyst for consequences: Within days of the interview, Prince Andrew stepped back from royal duties, as reported by Reuters
Legal context: Statements made in the interview became part of the public record ahead of the civil lawsuit Virginia Giuffre filed in August 2021 (Case No. 21-cv-6702, SDNY), according to court records

For the full details of the civil lawsuit and settlement, see our explainer on the Prince Andrew settlement.

What Followed

According to verified reporting by Reuters, the BBC, and the Associated Press:

November 20, 2019: Prince Andrew announced he was stepping back from royal duties "for the foreseeable future," according to a statement issued through Buckingham Palace
January 2022: He was stripped of his honorary military titles and royal patronages, as reported by the BBC
August 2021: Virginia Giuffre filed a civil lawsuit against Prince Andrew in U.S. federal court
February 2022: The civil case was settled with no admission of guilt, according to court records

For the broader context of Prince Andrew's connection to the Epstein case, see our Prince Andrew and Epstein topic page.

What We Know

Based on the BBC transcript and verified reporting:

The interview was conducted at Buckingham Palace and broadcast on BBC Newsnight on November 16, 2019
Prince Andrew made specific, on-the-record denials of Virginia Giuffre's allegations
He acknowledged the relationship with Epstein was a mistake but denied witnessing wrongdoing
He stepped back from royal duties four days after the broadcast
He was subsequently stripped of military titles and patronages
A civil lawsuit was filed and later settled

What We Don't Know

Whether internal royal advisors supported or opposed the decision to participate in the interview — reports differ across outlets
The full extent of Prince Andrew's contact with Epstein beyond what was disclosed in the interview
Whether the statements made during the interview influenced the subsequent legal proceedings
Whether Prince Andrew has made any additional private statements or legal declarations about the relationship

Primary Sources

BBC Newsnight interview transcript, November 2019 — bbc.com
BBC key moments analysis — bbc.com
Reuters, royal duties reporting — reuters.com
Associated Press, interview coverage — apnews.com
BBC, military titles reporting — bbc.com
Court records, Giuffre v. Prince Andrew, SDNY — CourtListener

For a complete overview, see Prince Andrew and Epstein. Learn about the individuals named in documents on the Epstein list page. Explore the full case timeline or browse the document library.