Prince Andrew has announced that he will be stepping away from his royal duties after recent backlash.
He announced on Wednesday, November 20th that he has made the decision to “step back from public duties” following his interview with the BBC about his connection to financier Jeffrey Epstein. Prince Andrew was widely criticized for showing no empathy to the victims of Epstein during his interview with BBC which aired on Saturday night.
“It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work and the valuable work going on in the many organizations and charities that I am proud to support,” he shared in the statement.
“Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission.”
“I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein. His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathize with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure. I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives. Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required.”
Initially following the interview, Prince Andrew expressed that he thought the interview went “quite well” and reportedly even expressed this to Queen Elizabeth at church that evening. This obviously was not the case, however, since many businesses and charities pulled their support from Andrew’s royal work following the interview.
The FBI will continue to investigate Epstein and his associates, and it remains unconfirmed whether Andrew will be brought in to offer testimony.
Want exclusive Royals content (news, fashion, lists & more) delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our Exclusive Fame10 Royals Email!