PRINCE Andrews interview with Emily Maitlis posed more questions than it provided answers.
Former Met DCI Mick Neville, who wrote the forces policy on dealing with sexual offences, said Andrew looked shifty and evasive, coughed, looked away and used language to deliberately minimise what happened.
He drew up 20 questions the FBI should ask the Prince over his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
He added: The FBI should use the interview and forensically dissect his story. It wont be that difficult to pull apart.
- WHAT did the butler see?FIVE minutes into his interview, Prince Andrew denied holding a birthday do at Sandringham for Epsteins girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, saying it was a straightforward shooting party.
Id want to quiz the staff, especially the butler, about the exact nature of the party. Id want to see the records of the food bought and on whose orders. Was there a cake? - WHY were you pals with Ghislaine Maxwell? And why did you see her just four months ago?THE Prince has never fully explained his relationship with the daughter of disgraced media baron Robert Maxwell. She has been described as the madam who procured girls for Epsteins friends. Just why were they so close, even after all the horrific revelations?
- WHY did you feel the need to fly to New York and stay with someone you are no longer friends with?IT is not clear why the Prince did not just ignore Epsteins calls. Why make the effort to travel to the US to say it in person, particularly if theyd had no contact in four years? He also needs to account for all his time there.
- JEFFREY Epstein apparently lent 15,000 to your wife, the Duchess of York. Why didnt you return the cash when he was jailed and turn your back on him?THE Duke must explain the financial arrangements between his family and Epstein. How much did the billionaire give, lend or promise? What did he expect in return? What was the implied nature of the arrangement
- DID he lend you money, too? What other deals have you done with him that needed to be kept quiet?
ID want to know if Andrew really had to borrow money from a paedophile. Surely he could have asked other friends, banks or his family. - EPSTEIN got the respectability he craved from being seen with a British Prince. What did the Duke of York get in return?ID be asking if it was just about the money, or was there something more?
- THE Prince says he learned from people he met through Epstein so does not regret the relationship. I suspect they are rich. Id ask: Who were they? What did they get from you?THE Duke, as a representative of the Crown, needs to name those he met at Epsteins parties.
- WHERE are the diaries?ANDREW says he and Epstein are not close yet he had access to Epsteins homes, his private island and jet. To me, that tells a different story. I cant believe the Duke, or one of his staff, did not keep diaries of when they met. They need to be found.
- WHERE are the royal protection squad notes of his movements?AS a senior detective seen below Id get my team to produce a timeline of the days and times Epstein and the Prince met. The Met must have records that could confirm everything he says. Where are those notes?
- WHO can vouch for him at Pizza Express?I FIND the Princes Pizza Express claims laughable. He is very specific when he needs an alibi, but vague when the facts are against him. All staff in that restaurant would have recognised him. There will be records of all the people who were working there. This is simple to verify. He could make this happen.
- WHEN did you leave Pizza Express?THERE would be time to leave the restaurant, go home, leave the daughters with nannies and get to Mayfairs Tramp unless the dinner that started at around 5pm lasted six hours.
- WHAT did you do the rest of night?IT takes around 30 minutes to get from the Woking eaterie to the familys Sunninghill Park home. Andrew could easily have made it to the club where Virginia Roberts, then 17, claims she met him.
- YOU say the photo of you with Virginia Roberts may be faked. Can you prove it?ANDREW says he had an investigation done into the snaps authenticity. Who did it? What are their qualifications and findings?
- WHY did you say the photo was taken upstairs at Ghislaine Maxwells Belgravia home then later say you had never been upstairs?HOW would he know if it was upstairs in the house when he says he had never been up there?
- YOU dont sweat? Show me the medical records.ANDREW claims he doesnt sweat before changing his claim to didnt. Where is the medical evidence? When did he establish this problem? When did it change?
- IS the tie a lie?THE Prince claims he always wears a tie in London. Id task a researcher to find photos to negate this. It would add to a troubling narrative that the Duke is not being entirely honest.
- DID you have a foot massage?FOOT massages are mentioned twice in the interview. Witnesses noted that they were given by young Russian girls. Andrew claims he didnt notice anything untoward at Epsteins homes. Did he have such massages? How many places does he go where young girls do such things?
- WHAT happened on Epsteins island?PRINCE Andrew is said to have visited Epsteins private Caribbean island three times. It is claimed naked girls took part in orgies there and Virginia Roberts alleges the Duke took part in one with her, Epstein and eight other women. He has not properly answered that claim.
- WERE you at Epsteins Mexico ranch?WITNESS Deidre Stratton said Andrew burnt food when he tried to cook at the Zorro ranch in Mexico where a beautiful woman was said to be provided for the Dukes pleasure. Was he there?
- WHY did you deliberately minimise what happened?ANDREW excuses crimes by using phrases that downplay what happened. He says his hand was on the left side of Virginia Roberts meaning it was on the teenagers waist. He says no activity took place when he means sex with a girl his daughters age. He calls Epsteins crimes unbecoming when he means being a convicted sex offender…Why?
