Prince Andrew steps back from public duties over ties to Epstein

LONDON — After a disastrous interview about his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew announced Wednesday that he is quitting his public duties “for the foreseeable future.”

Essentially, the Duke of York will now go dark — as sponsors of some of the 200 charities he endorses had already begun to abandon him, concluding that he no longer casts a royal glow but controversial shade.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II said: “It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family’s work.”

Andrew said, “I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission.”

He added: “I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein. His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure.”

The 59-year-old prince had been criticized for not expressing sympathy for Epstein’s victims in his open-ended, hour-long interview with the BBC that aired Saturday, intended by the prince to put the controversy to rest. In that interview, he also claimed to have “no recollection” of meeting Virginia Roberts, now Virginia Giuffre, who says that she was groomed by Epstein to have sex with Andrew on three occasions. Andrew “categorically” denied having sex with her.