The Duke of York is believed to have met Epstein for the first time in 1999 to then meet on several occasions through the years – even after the billionaire was first convicted for charges of soliciting for prostitution and procuring minors for prostitution. Prince Andrew has since been forced to resign from royal duties due to the backlash the interview caused but Daily Mirror’s Royal Editor Russell Myers warned the Royal Family could soon face an “absolute tinderbox” should Epstein’s former partner and Andrew’s friend, Ghislaine Maxwell, agree to talk about her side of the story.
Speaking to Lorraine, Mr Myers said: “As I understand it, there is a bidding war going on for her story – another interview. “The Palace must be quaking in their boots because not only Prince Andrew’s given that awful interview but then you add another one into the mix.” The royal expert continued: “Ghislaine Maxwell, the former partner of the disgraced paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, a friend of Prince Andrew, a friend of the royals. “If she actually goes forward and does an interview before she’s potentially spoken to the FBI – this could open an absolute tinderbox. Let’s see what happens.”
Ms Maxwell has not been seen or heard of since August, when she was reportedly spotted sitting at an In-N-Out burger diner in Los Angeles. The British socialite is the daughter of the late publishing tycoon Robert Maxwell, after whose death she relocated to the United States. Prince Andrew dismissed suggestions he saw Epstein as a friend but claimed he first began hanging out with the convicted sex abuser because of his friendship with Ms Maxwell. The Duke of York said: “On balance, could I have avoided ever meeting him? Probably not and that’s because of my friendship with Ghislaine.
“It was inevitable that we would have come across each other. Do I regret the fact he has quite obviously conducted himself in a manner unbecoming? Yes.” Ms Maxwell has herself been accused in civil allegations of trafficking women to facilitate Epstein and his rich associates abusing them. Asked whether the socialite is under investigation, the US Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York said: “We will not confirm that or comment on any suspects or individuals in this case.” Prince Andrew announced last month he would step down from royal duties “for the foreseeable future”: “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 organisations and charities I support.