What did Prince Andrew say about Jeffrey Epstein? Royal trends on X amid backlash over Epstein case

The recent developments around the Epstein case have drawn lots of criticism for the Trump administration. 

At the same time, Prince Andrew’s ties with the deceased financier and convicted s*x offender also resurfaced in the wake of the ongoing situation. The Royal Family member also made it to the trending tab on X (formerly Twitter) as many users directed their criticism at the Duke of York and mentioned allegations against him. 

For those unaware, Prince Andrew previously admitted to being a former friend of Epstein during a conversation with Emily Maitlis in November 2019 for BBC Newsnight. The journalist questioned the British royal over his ties with the disgraced personality. Maitlis also grilled Prince Andrew over his 2010 meeting with Epstein in New York. 

By the end of the interview, the Royal Family member shared how he regretted meeting the controversial financier in 2010, but also acknowledged the “beneficial outcomes” he got from the friendship. He said, 

“As far as Mr. Epstein is concerned, it was the wrong decision to go and see him in 2010. As far as my association with him was concerned, it had some seriously beneficial outcomes in areas that have nothing, on the bet, have nothing to do with what I would describe as what we're talking about today.” 

Prince Andrew maintained that he might not have been able to avoid meeting Epstein due to their mutual connection with Ghislaine Maxwell. He added, 

“Do I regret the fact that he has quite obviously conducted himself in a manner unbecoming? Yes.” 

When pointed out by Emily Maitlis, Prince Andrew referred to Epstein as a s*x offender and stated, 

“Was I right in having him as a friend at the time? I'm bearing in mind this was some years before he was accused of being a s*x offender. I don’t think there's anything wrong, then. The problem was the fact that once he had been convicted.” 

The Duke of York asserted that he had “let the side down,” referring to the Royal Family. 

Prince Andrew claimed to have met Jeffrey Epstein through Ghislaine and denied Virginia Giuffre’s allegations  

The infamous exchange between Emily Maitlis and the Duke of York saw the former asking several questions about the latter’s ties with Epstein. Prince Andrew shared his willingness at the start of the interview and said, 

“Because there is no good time to talk about Mr. Epstein and all things associated.” 

When asked how he met Epstein, the Royal Family member revealed, 

“Well, I met through his girlfriend back in 1999, who… And I'd known her since she was at university in the UK. And it would be to some extent to stretch to say that… We were close friends when we were friends because of other people.” 

He claimed to have met Epstein once or twice a year during his visits to the US. Prince Andrew confessed that he had stayed at the financier’s places and later responded affirmatively when asked about being on Jeffrey Epstein’s plane. When talking about the controversial figure, the royal said, 

“He had the most extraordinary ability to bring extraordinary people together, and that's the bit that I remember, going to the dinner parties, where you would meet academics, politicians, people from the United Nations.” 

This video was shot on December 6, 2010, during a visit by Prince Andrew to Epstein’s nine-story 21,000 square foot mansion dubbed the ‘House of Horrors’ by many of his young victims.

The Duke is seen at the door about an hour after Epstein left the house with a young woman. pic.twitter.com/45GGIvqEk9

— Champagne Joshi (@JoshWalkos) July 8, 2025

Prince Andrew maintained that he never really partied. The Royal family member mentioned that he “never really felt the need to go and party, and certainly not going to Jeffrey's.” The Duke of York asserted that he stopped meeting Epstein after 2006, but met him for the last time in 2010, when he stayed at his place. Prince Andrew recalled,  

“I went to see him, and I was doing a number of other things in New York at the time, and we had an opportunity to go for a walk in the park, and that was the conversation, coincidentally, that was photographed, which was when I said to him."

He added, 

I said, ‘Look, because of what has happened, I don't think it is appropriate that we should remain in contact.’ And by mutual agreement during that walk in the park, we decided that we would part company, and I left. I think it was the next day, and to this day, I never had any contact with him from that day forward.” 

When inquired about why he stayed at Epstein’s place, Prince Andrew acknowledged his mistake and admitted that “it was a convenient place to stay.” Emily Maitlis also grilled the royal about Virginia Giuffre’s allegations, to which he replied, 

“I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady.” 

Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre has died by suicide. Her brother shared this final photo of her shortly after her passing. Her death comes just weeks after she was treated in an Australian hospital following a bus crash. pic.twitter.com/OCbcfaG2Ec

— Morbid Knowledge (@Morbidful) April 26, 2025

Prince Andrew stated that he had no recollection of getting pictured with Virginia, while also refuting other claims. However, in 2022, according to the BBC, he settled the civil s*x assault case outside court, without making an “admission of liability.” For the unversed, Virginia Giuffre passed away in April 2025, with the reason behind her death being reported as s*icide. 

While the royal maintained that he never met Epstein after 2010, he claimed during his BBC interview that he had met Ghislaine Maxwell in early 2019.  In July 2025, it was reported that FBI is stopping probe in Prince Andrew's ties with Jeffrey Epstein, the New York Post confirmed.