Buckingham Palace issues second statement regarding Prince Andrew’s involvement with Jeffrey Epstein

Prince Andrew is speaking out for the first time since the death of former associate Jeffrey Epstein.

A statement from Buckingham Palace released yesterday evening states that the Queen Elizabeth’s son is “appalled” by Epstein’s alleged crimes.

It reads in full:

“The Duke of York has been appalled by the recent reports of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes. His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent.”

The statement comes after a 2010 video of Prince Andrew inside Epstein’s New York City home was published by the Daily Mail. In the footage, the Duke of York can be seen waving to a woman from the door.

At the time when the video was reportedly recorded, Epstein was already a convicted sex offender, who had served 13 months in a Palm Beach County jail after pleading guilty to two prostitution-related charges.

The statement is the second issued by the royal family regarding Prince Andrew’s relationship with Epstein in less than a week.

Just one day before Epstein was found dead by apparent suicide, a number of legal documents relating to his criminal case were unsealed, one of which included allegations about Prince Andrew.

When asked about the allegations by NBC News, Buckingham Palace gave the following statement:

“This relates to proceedings in the United States, to which The Duke of York is not a party. Any suggestion of impropriety with underage minors is categorically untrue.”

That is the same statement given to the Daily Mail when its reporter asked if Andrew was going to comment on Epstein’s death.

Last weekend, Prince Andrew was photographed travelling to church with his mother the Queen. The public appearance was interpreted by some as a symbol of the British monarch’s support for her second son in the face of controversy.