Former Newsnight host Emily Maitlis has expressed satisfaction with the Metropolitan Police’s investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew sought police assistance to tarnish his sexual assault accuser’s reputation.
Maitlis, who hosts the News Agents podcast, believes that Prince Andrew’s downfall was inevitable after her notable interview with him in 2019. The Amazon series inspired by the interview suggested that Andrew posed uncomfortable questions to Maitlis before the official interview commenced.
The series, titled A Very Royal Scandal, depicted the controversial interview where Andrew addressed his association with Jeffrey Epstein, denied meeting Virginia Giuffre, and offered peculiar explanations involving sweat, the Falklands conflict, and Pizza Express.
Maitlis, who conducted the interview, also served as an executive producer for the series, which portrayed Andrew questioning Maitlis and her team about personal experiences with abuse to gauge their impartiality.
Despite the authenticity of Andrew’s inquiry being unconfirmed, the series was reportedly based on multiple accounts from individuals involved in the real events.
Following increased scrutiny on his connections to Epstein and amid the imminent release of Ms. Giuffre’s book, Prince Andrew announced relinquishing his royal titles and distinctions. He vehemently denies the allegations made by Ms. Giuffre.
It was disclosed that Prince Andrew attempted to obtain confidential information on Ms. Giuffre from the Met Police to discredit her claims, a matter currently under investigation by the authorities.
Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show, Maitlis expressed her desire for justice if anyone had made Ms. Giuffre’s life more challenging. She also analyzed Andrew’s communication with Epstein, indicating a lingering friendship despite his public statements.
Reflecting on Andrew’s decision to renounce his title, Maitlis noted the prolonged process leading to this moment, emphasizing the gradual erosion of Andrew’s public roles over the years.
The palace’s eventual response was seen as inevitable by Maitlis, considering the aftermath of the interview and the subsequent developments.