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The BBC almost chose not to air the Duke of York’s criticized explanation about his visit to Pizza Express in light of allegations that he had sexual relations with Virginia Giuffre, in order to protect him from being mocked.
The hapless Andrew begged ex-BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis to include it in a second interview, as he had failed to mention it the first time. He believed it would help him avoid consequences. However, the broadcaster went ahead with the interview regardless.
Ms Maitlis shared that the BBC initially thought about declining the request, but ultimately decided to continue with the interview at Buckingham Palace. During the interview, Prince Andrew denied allegations of having sexual relations with Ms Giuffre, who was 17 years old at the time and had been trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein, a friend of the royal and a known paedophile.
The previous host of Newsnight stated that she ultimately accepted Prince Andrew’s request in part to prevent a recurrence of the “Diana interview scandal,” in which the BBC’s Martin Bashir was accused of manipulating the late Princess of Wales.
During an interview with Sir Craig Oliver on the Desperately Seeking Wisdom mental health podcast, Ms Maitlis shared additional information about the controversial interview with David Cameron’s former No 10 spin doctor in 2019.
Andrew claimed that he was unable to engage in sexual activity with Virginia Giuffre because he had accompanied his daughter to a birthday celebration at the Pizza Express located in Woking, Surrey.
He claimed that he did not engage in sexual activity with Ms Giuffre in London on March 10, 2001 as accused, as he was attending his daughter’s birthday celebration at Pizza Express in Woking, Surrey.
According to Ms Giuffre, they went to Tramp nightclub together and she remembered that Prince Andrew was “sweaty” while they were dancing. However, he denied that it was him, stating that he was unable to sweat at the time due to the trauma from serving in the Falklands War.
Ms. Maitlis revealed that the alibi from Pizza Express, which was widely ridiculed, was given as an afterthought when the duke requested that she turn the cameras back on.
Afterwards, Maitlis expressed her shock and disbelief regarding the prince’s behavior during the interview.
She stated: “He intended to include that later. I asked him, ‘Is there anything you haven’t had the opportunity to mention?’ He replied, ‘Oh, I forgot to give you my alibi.’ And he proceeded to tell us about the incident at Pizza Express.”
“We mentioned, ‘However, you have responded to all the inquiries and clarified that you have never encountered Virginia Giuffre.’
“He confirmed that he was unable to attend because he was in his car on the way to Pizza Express in Woking with his daughter.”
“We allowed him to re-record it, but it was a difficult process. I believed that omitting it would result in the exclusion of crucial information from the interviewee. However, including it may make it seem absurd.”
Andrew has refuted all accusations brought against him by Guiffre.
Ms. Maitlis described her predicament: “He requested for it to be included – but does he have the ultimate decision? It was obviously going to make him seem absurd.”
According to her, the BBC encountered a “struggle of ethics”.
Ultimately, we determined that if we had informed the palace, it would have to be included in the interview.
“After the controversy surrounding the Diana interview with Bashir, we felt it was important to be open and honest. If we asked if there was anything they wanted included and they said yes, we had to include it.”
She expressed her disbelief at the prince’s behavior during the interview: “I’m uncertain if he perceived it in the same manner as those of us who were present.”
The person believed their excuses were clear enough, that they had successfully convinced us that they were unable to perspire, had not been at the club, or had been at Pizza Express.
Despite the scandalous interview, Prince Andrew maintains his innocence and continues to refute all accusations made by Ms Giuffre, causing lasting damage to his reputation.
In the section labeled “inserted” per his request, he stated: “I was accompanying the children and I had brought Beatrice to a Pizza Express in Woking for a 4pm or 5pm party.”
When questioned about why he still recalls a meal he had at Pizza Express 18 years ago, he explained that it was because visiting the restaurant in Woking was not a common occurrence for him. He had only been to Woking a few times and the memory of the experience was strangely vivid to him.
You have the opportunity to tune in to the interview with Emily Maitlis on ‘Desperately Seeking Wisdom’, which was aired on Monday, February 5th.
Source: independent.co.uk
