Prince Andrew‘s accuser, Virginia Roberts has broken her silence following the royal’s decision to “step down from public duties for the foreseeable future.”
WATCH: Prince Andrew doesn’t recollect photo with Virginia Roberts
“Prince Andrew’s recent interview and his subsequent action to withdraw from public life is welcomed news. It is a positive first step towards taking responsibility for his actions,” her attorney, Sigrid McCawley told PEOPLE in a statement.
“However, basing his decision to step away from his duties due to his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is only a half truth. He clearly had a long-term association with Ghislaine Maxwell who we maintain was Epstein’s co-conspirator and played a central role in devastating the lives of countless women.”
During Prince Andrew’s interview with BBC Newsnight last week, he claimed he met Jeffrey Epstein through his then-girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell – who has never been charged and has denied all the allegations. The Duke of York also denied he had ever been with Roberts (now known as Virginia Guiffre).
“I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever,” the 59-year-old told BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis about the allegations. “It just never happened.”
Buckingham Palace has issued a statement denying Roberts was forced to have sex with his Royal Highness at age 17.
“It is emphatically denied that The Duke of York had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Roberts,” a previous statement said. “Any claim to the contrary is false and without foundation.”
In the interview, Prince Andrew also denied dancing with at London’s exclusive Tramp nightclub, before allegedly having sex in a mansion in Belgravia.
“No, that couldn’t have happened because the date that’s being suggested I was at home with the children,” he said. “I’d taken Beatrice to a Pizza Express in Woking for a party at I suppose sort of four or five in the afternoon.”
“And then because the Duchess (Sarah Ferguson) was away, we have a simple rule in the family that when one is away the other one is there. I was on terminal leave at the time from the Royal Navy so, therefore, I was at home.”
It’s been less than a week since the interview aired, and Prince Andrew has already stepped down from his public duties. He released a statement on Instagram yesterday.
More on this as it develops.
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