Insights

Emily Maitlis has shared insights into her controversial interview with Prince Andrew, coinciding with the upcoming release of a three-part drama about the encounter. In an article for The Times, Maitlis recounted the lead-up to the interview, revealing that initial plans were scrapped due to Andrew's discomfort with certain "red-line questions." This hesitation ultimately led him to opt for an interview with ITV instead. Five years post-interview, Maitlis has expressed her views on Andrew's guilt regarding allegations made by Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Jeffrey Epstein. She noted that the question of his guilt is complex and imprecise, stating, “Guilty of what?” Despite her extensive consideration of the matter, she believes the full truth of Giuffre's claims may never be known. However, she emphasized that Andrew is "clearly guilty of other things," including his continued association with Epstein and his inadequate response to victims of sex trafficking. During the original Newsnight interview, Andrew denied having any sexual encounter with Giuffre, claiming he had no recollection of meeting her and asserting he was at a Pizza Express restaurant on the day in question. The drama, which stars Ruth Wilson as Maitlis, is set to premiere on Amazon Prime on September 19, drawing renewed attention to the scandal surrounding the royal.