Queen did not approve son Prince Andrew's 'car crash' BBC Newsnight interview

THE QUEEN did not approve her son Prince Andrew’s recent Newsnight interview about his friendship with former financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to new reports.

By Millie Bull, Deputy Lifestyle Editor

Prince Andrew: 'No wonder PR advisor resigned' says expert

Palace insiders have accused the Duke of York’s private office of “operating in a silo” as it emerged the Queen was not made aware of the broadcast until after it was organised, according to The Daily Telegraph. Although the interview was supposed to end the speculation surrounding the Duke’s behaviour, the interrogation by Emily Maitlis only generated fresh questions surrounding the Duke’s movements.

Questions were being asked at the Palace as to why Prince Andrew had been exposed to such media interrogation without any preconditions attached.

The Duke was left having to answer repeated questions about whether he had sexual relations with Virginia Roberts Giuffre when she was 17.

One former senior courtier has described the interview as “excruciating” while others have likened it to a “car crash”.

However, sources close to the Duke have said he has stood by his decision, claiming he answered the questions with “honesty and humility”.

queen

Queen did not approve son Prince Andrew's 'car crash' BBC Newsnight interview (Image: GETTY)

prince-andrew

Palace insiders have accused the Duke of York’s private office of “operating in a silo” (Image: GETTY)

It comes as Prince Charles was urged to consider downgrading the Duke’s status as a working royal when he becomes king.

The Duke of York was also faced with more questions surrounding a £15,000 loan that his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, accepted from Epstein.

Questions were specifically aimed at whether Prince Andrew had a hand in arranging the loan and whether it was before or after he allegedly cut off contact with the disgraced billionaire.

Evidence emerged on Sunday that was contrary to the Duke’s explanation of Ms Giuffre’s sex claims with the royal were incorrect.

READ MORE: Prince Andrew to continue royal duties amid Epstein scandal

queen

One former senior courtier has described the interview as “excruciating” (Image: GETTY)

He suggested that a photograph of him and the woman in question with his arm around her waist could have been faked.

He claimed that he never wore casual clothes in London therefore it could not be him.

However, his explanation was undermined when pictures of him wearing a very similar outfit on a night out in the capital emerged.

Royal insiders have expressed their anger over the Duke’s decision to grant the BBC interview, and about the advice he was given.

DON'T MISS
Duchess Kate takes Prince Louis to weekly Monkey Music sessions [LATEST]
Prince Andrew alibi: ‘I took Beatrice to Pizza Express' [REVEALED]
Prince Andrew invited Epstein to Princess Beatrice's 18th birthday ... [UPDATE]

epstein

The Duke claimed to cut off his friendship with Epstein years earlier (Image: GETTY)

pa

Royal insiders have expressed their anger over the Duke’s decision to grant the BBC interview (Image: GETTY)

One royal source said: “The statement Buckingham Palace issued said the Queen was aware of the interview but not that she approved it.

“It’s extraordinary how this has unfolded, without any real consultation with the Palace press office or even the Queen’s private office.

“It does seem as if the Duke of York’s private office is operating in a silo, which is really quite dangerous because there is a lack of accountability there.

“Internally, this is being seen as a f**k up.”

Royal Family tree

Royal Family tree (Image: EXPRESS.CO.UK)

One royal adviser said the interview was “completely unprecedented” and that the interview should have been one part of a documentary.

She added: “This interview was completely unprecedented in offering a royal up for one hour on one subject without any questions being off limits.

“Ordinarily you would say to the BBC, ‘He’ll talk about X for 10 minutes but he won’t talk about Y or Z’.

pA

Sarah Ferguson also acquired a £15,000 loan from Epstein (Image: GETTY)

Why didn’t they insist on the Duke being filmed carrying out royal duties and make the Epstein allegations a smaller part of a wider documentary?”

A source close to the Duke told The Daily Telegraph that the programme did not “have enough focus on his work”.

Prince Andrew is the third child of Queen Elizabeth II.

Comments Unavailable

Sorry, we are unable to accept comments about this article at the moment. However, you will find some great articles which you can comment on right now in our Comment section.

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?