The November 2019 Interview
In November 2019, Prince Andrew sat for a live interview with BBC journalist Emily Maitlis. The interview was intended to address allegations against him regarding his relationship with Epstein and Virginia Giuffre’s claims.
The Alibi Issues
Giuffre alleged she was directed to have sex with Andrew at a nightclub in London, then at Ghislaine Maxwell’s home. Andrew claimed to have been at a Pizza Express restaurant in Woking on the relevant evening and to have no memory of meeting Giuffre.
The Sweat Glands Claim
Andrew claimed he could not have left sweat on Giuffre during the alleged encounter because he had a condition preventing him from sweating normally, resulting from a battlefield experience during the Falklands War. This claim was widely mocked.
The Characterization of Epstein
Andrew described his continued relationship with Epstein after his 2008 conviction as a matter of ‘honorable’ in-person departure visiting New York to have a face-to-face conversation to end the relationship.
The Aftermath
The interview was almost immediately described as a disaster by PR experts and media commentators. Andrew resigned from royal duties shortly after. The interview has been studied as a case study in crisis communication failure.