Emily Maitlis has opened up about her memorable 2019 Newsnight interview with the Duke of York, stating that it led to him “losing the respect of the nation,” but that the victims of Jeffrey Epstein are still awaiting closure.
“I think there is unfinished business,” Maitlis told BBC News, noting that the interview didn’t provide a “nice, neat ending.” The interview, which many described as a “car crash,” featured Prince Andrew discussing his friendship with convicted sex offender Epstein. Now, the interview is being dramatized in a new three-part series, A Very Royal Scandal, starring Ruth Wilson as Maitlis and Michael Sheen as Prince Andrew.
The televised interview severely damaged Andrew’s reputation and is believed to have contributed significantly to his eventual decision to step down from royal duties. Shortly after the interview, the Duke acknowledged that the Epstein scandal had become a “major disruption” to the Royal Family and stepped back from public life.
Maitlis, speaking alongside Wilson at the Ham Yard Hotel in London, near the Newsnight studio, reflected on the long-term impact of the 2019 interview. The conversation with Andrew, which aired as a special episode, saw him deny having had sex with then-17-year-old Virginia Giuffre, insisting he was at a Pizza Express in Woking on the day of the alleged encounter. Andrew has since reached a financial settlement with Giuffre, though no admission of guilt was made, and he has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Reflecting on the fallout, Maitlis said Andrew “lost his royal duties, his right to wear uniform, and the respect of the nation.” However, she noted that it remains unclear whether Epstein’s victims gained anything from the scandal. “There’s been no trial, just a settlement, and we haven’t had that sense of closure,” she remarked.
Maitlis questioned the lasting impact of her work as a journalist, asking, “Can you ever do more as a journalist than just ask the questions and see what changes?” The third episode of A Very Royal Scandal delves into the aftermath of the interview, focusing on the consequences for those involved, while highlighting that the situation doesn’t have a simple resolution.
Maitlis also disclosed that shortly after the interview, someone close to King Charles (then Prince of Wales) told her that “HRH was not unhappy with the interview.” Though the BBC was unable to verify this, Maitlis speculated that Charles didn’t hold her responsible for the fallout, or that it was helpful in resetting the Royal Family’s relationship with the British public.
She also reflected on how the monarchy appeared more “slimmed down” after the interview. “I remember the Queen’s speech that Christmas — there were fewer family photographs on display. It felt like a shift,” Maitlis said, hinting that the interview may have played a part in this change.
In the new drama series, Ruth Wilson takes on the role of Maitlis, immersing herself in the journalist’s character through a voice and movement coach. Maitlis praised Wilson’s portrayal, particularly her depiction of her off-screen life, which she described as chaotic. “I’m always spilling things, overstuffing my handbag,” she laughed, adding that Wilson captured her quirks perfectly.
The Very Royal Scandal comes shortly after another dramatization of the same interview, Scoop, which focused on the role of producer Sam McAlister. Maitlis diplomatically acknowledged the differences between the two versions, but pointed out some fictional elements in Scoop, such as scenes featuring her dog in the office — an event that never happened.
While both dramatizations offer different insights, Maitlis emphasized that the real interview remains available online and is worth watching. “The interview was one hour, in one moment, but the drama is about the consequences and fallout that we are only just beginning to understand,” she explained. “The story isn’t finished yet, but this is the closest you’ll get to understanding the beginning and what it did to all of us.”
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