After a year that has seen Prince Andrew face increasing scrutiny for his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, and just four days after a BBC interview aired and ignited an intense debate, the prince has announced that with the Queen’s permission, he will step back from his public duties for “the foreseeable future.”
In a statement, Andrew wrote, “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.”
The statement came shortly after a source claimed that Prince Charles was angered by the interview. According to a Daily Telegraph source, it’s possible Charles could decide to remove Andrew from his position as a working royal as soon as he ascends to the throne. After the interview, a number of businesses and organizations pulled out of projects they were working on with Andrew. On Tuesday night, the Sun reported that the prince had canceled an appearance and had been called to “crisis talks” at Buckingham Palace.
In the interview, Andrew claimed that he didn’t regret his association with Epstein because of the opportunities it brought him, which sparked condemnation from across the political spectrum. In Wednesday’s statement, he reversed course on that idea. “I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein,” he wrote. “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.”
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