Buckingham Palace called allegations that Prince Andrew was involved in Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sex crimes appalling.
“The Duke of York has been appalled by the recent reports of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
“His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behavior is abhorrent,” the statement said.
Over the weekend, British media shared footage of Queen Elizabeth’s 59-year-old son inside Epstein’s Manhattan mansion. The Daily Mail said the footage was from 2010. It showed Prince Andrew in the doorway saying goodbye to a woman.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to a felony prostitution charge after he was accused of sexually abusing underage girls in the previous decade.
The financier, who was arrested in July, was found dead in his prison cell earlier this month. The New York City medical examiner’s office said Friday that Epstein died by suicide.
Prince Andrew’s association with Epstein is under renewed scrutiny after he was named in court documents describing the alleged sexual misconduct. At least one woman has said she was paid by Epstein for her sexual encounters with the prince when she was underage.
