Britain's Prince Andrew 'categorically" denies sex claims
Britain's Prince Andrew has categorically denied having sex with a teenage girl in a rare interview aimed at drawing a line under a scandal over his ties to U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRINCE ANDREW, SAYING:
"I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady."
Virginia Giuffre says Epstein - who killed himself in August while being held on federal sex trafficking charges - kept her as a sex slave and that she was forced to have sex with Queen Elizabeth's second son in London, New York and on a private Caribbean island between 1999 and 2002.
But during an hour long BBC interview - that was at time rambling and contradictory - Andrew gave a series of reasons why, according to him, Giuffre's recollections, including him sweating in a London club two decades ago, could not be true.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRINCE ANDREW, SAYING:
"I have a peculiar medical condition which is that I don't sweat, or I didn't sweat at the time because I had suffered what I would describe as an overdose of adrenaline in the Falklands War when I was shot at, and I simply, it was almost impossible for me to sweat."
He said on the night in question he was at home with his family, having taken his daughter Beatrice to a Pizza Express restaurant in Woking.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRINCE ANDREW, SAYING:
(Reporter: "Why would you remember a Pizza Express birthday and being home?") "Because going to Pizza Express in Woking is an unusual thing for me to do."
He also cast doubt over a picture of showing the prince with his arm around Giuffre's waist.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRINCE ANDREW SAYING:
"I have no recollection of that photograph ever being taken."
Andrew said Epstein's behavior was "unbecoming" but that his relationship with the financier had provided "opportunities" as he transitioned out of the Navy.
Andrew stayed with Epstein after the latter pleaded guilty to Florida state prostitution charges.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITAIN'S PRINCE ANDREW, SAYING:
"We try and uphold the highest standards and practices and I let the side down, as simple as that."
He said he only visited Epstein's New York home in 2010 to break off the friendship.
Gloria Allred, a lawyer acting for alleged victims of Epstein, said there is so much of the truth that is yet to be revealed, and said Prince Andrew should answer questions under oath
