Prince Andrew’s recent interview on his relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a financier who was charged with sex trafficking for allegedly having procured underage girls for high society patrons, has apparently stirred quite a storm on social media as people took stock of his revelations on the issue.
Speaking with BBC’s Emily Maitlis, the Duke of York, who was photographed at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion in 2010 and accused of having sex with one of his alleged underage victims, claimed that he merely stayed at Epstein’s house because it was “convenient”, and that he maintained his friendship with Epstein even after the latter was convicted because, at that time, he “felt it was the honourable and right thing to do”.
The Duke of York confirmed, however, that he had flown Epstein’s jet and stayed both at his New York mansion and on his private island.
Commenting on the allegations of him having sex with Virginia Giuffre (formerly known as Virginia Roberts) who previously claimed that Epstein forced her to have sex with the royal when she was merely 17, Prince Andrew argued that he has "no recollection of ever meeting this lady".
"If you’re a man it is a positive act to have sex with somebody", the prince said. "You have to … take some sort of positive action and so therefore if you try to forget it’s very difficult to try and forget a positive action and I do not remember anything".
Regarding the matter of the photograph depicting him with his arm draped around Roberts’ waist, the prince also insisted that he got "no recollection of that photograph ever being taken", arguing that, as a royal family member, he was "not one to, as it were, hug, and public displays of affection are not something that I do".
The prince also claimed that on 10 March 2001, the day Giuffre Roberts alleged they had sex after partying in a London nightclub, he was at a pizza outlet.
"I was with the children and I’d taken Beatrice to a Pizza Express in Woking for a party at I suppose four or five in the afternoon. And then because the duchess [Sarah Ferguson] was away, we have a simple rule in the family that when one is away the other is there", he claimed.
The Duke of York added that while Giuffre Roberts alleged that he was sweating heavily as they danceed at the nightclub, her account was erroneous as he had a medical condition at the time which meant he did not sweat.
"There’s a slight problem with the sweating because I have a peculiar medical condition which is that I don’t sweat or I didn’t sweat at the time and that was…was it…yes, I didn’t sweat at the time because I had suffered what I would describe as an overdose of adrenalin in the Falkland’s War when I was shot at and I simply…it was almost impossible for me to sweat", he said.
Many social media users, however, did not seem inclined to believe the prince, with famous TV personality Piers Morgan describing the Duke of York’s comments as “desperate, toe-curling bullsh*t”.
This is one of the most astonishing interviews I’ve ever watched. Brilliant forensic dissection by @maitlis - desperate, toe-curling bullsh*t from Prince Andrew. Why on earth did he do this? Insane. pic.twitter.com/cF0UBBAlvG
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) 16 ноября 2019 г.
#prince andrew pic.twitter.com/GIkiVnu5vl
— MALLY .D. BAINES (@manumally) 16 ноября 2019 г.
#prince andrew slimey, arrogant git. Of course he knew what Epstein was doing & I have no doubt the Windsor oink slept with young women. I don't believe they were forced however, I think like a lot of women they were paid for sex with famous, rich people for their own gain.
— Susan Fuller (@SusanFu14150836) 16 ноября 2019 г.
#Prince #Andrew talked about #Epstein to insist that he had 'no memory' of meeting the girl who says she was trafficked to have sex with him. Q: Do you believe that Andrew is a pillar of rectitude or suspect he is a predator and has contempt and disdain for working people?
— The Communists (@CPGBML) 16 ноября 2019 г.
#prince Andrew knows he's been caught out!..now he's trying to worm he's way out of it...GUILTY..he's expressions says it all!!..disgusting that there's different rules for the royals!!
— c H i @ (@chiaa96) 16 ноября 2019 г.
Must of been taking lessons from this chap #PrinceAndrew pic.twitter.com/ZxpHnsSFPm
— Samwise the brave (@samwisthebrave) 16 ноября 2019 г.
Some also focused their attention on the prince’s response about his alleged relationship Giuffre-Roberts.
Having "no recollection" cannot be proven. It does however cleverly divert attention away from the fact that #Prince Andrew clearly did meet the young woman in question. If you aren't able to deny the meeting - deny your "recollection". His lawyers briefed him well.
— Roger Hall (@hall_roger) 16 ноября 2019 г.
#Prince Andrew has had a lapse of memory has he? That protects him does it? Not in a normal court of law methinks.
— 💧Hepcat (@Hepzibah18) 16 ноября 2019 г.
What a royal Twit. Totally excruciating to watch. Absolutely no remorse for the victims at any point during the interview. Appalling. Using mental health in such a flippant manner! Sir, is 'No recollection' another way of saying 'No comment?' #Prince Andrew
— Angela Boulton (@AnandjotKaur) 16 ноября 2019 г.
A number of people went on to crack jokes about the prince’s “pizza alibi”.
#BreakingNews the Queen says she can’t remember giving birth to #PrinceAndrew she said she distinctly remembers going to #PizzaExpressWoking on 19th February 1960. #DukeOfYork #PizzaGate #NonceUponATime pic.twitter.com/h5oOZ4B3gI
— PenkyMax #VoteLabour (@penkymax) 17 ноября 2019 г.
Some comedy gold on the reviews section of pizza express #PrinceAndrew pic.twitter.com/o7KqDGQuwH
— Bermondsey_Blonde (@Bermondsey20) 17 ноября 2019 г.
"When did you last speak with Ghislaine?"
— rlpldn (@rlpldn) 16 ноября 2019 г.
"Summer"..."late spring"..."early spring"..."when did Epstein get arrested?" [July]..."yes, before July!"
...
"Where were you on 10 March 2001?"
"Pizza Express Woking".#PrinceAndrew pic.twitter.com/V2CeNAut7G
"I have no recollection of having sex on four separate occasions with an underage girl, although I do remember every single detail of a visit to Pizza Express in Woking in 2001"#PrinceAndrew
— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) 16 ноября 2019 г.
And others even suggested that the prince should’ve been interviewed by a different party.
#Prince Andrew should only be interviewed by the Police. The transatlantic nonce.
— Phil Sloers (@Philsloers) 16 ноября 2019 г.