Prince Andrew Ignored Friend’s Warning Against BBC Newsnight Interview

Prince Andrew, the former Duke of York, ignored the advice of a close friend and media law expert, Paul Tweed, not to proceed with his infamous interview on BBC Newsnight in 2019.

In a surprising revelation, Tweed, a high-profile defamation attorney, disclosed that he explicitly advised Andrew against the sit-down interview with Emily Maitlis.

Describing his friend as naive in dealing with the media and trusting people, Tweed expressed concern about Andrew's lack of experience in handling such situations.

Another family friend, who preferred to remain anonymous, described the TV interaction as “horrible” but believed that the former Duke of York was not given fair representation.

Despite the passage of four years since the interview, Andrew continues to face a challenging situation, having retreated from public life.

These revelations came to light in the documentary Secrets of Prince Andrew, which is set to air in the US this month.

According to Tweed, he met Andrew near his home in Portrush, Northern Ireland, in the fall of 2019.

During their conversation, Andrew mentioned that he was considering an interview with Emily Maitlis on Newsnight.

Recognizing the potential for an intense interrogation, especially given Andrew's inexperience with the media, Tweed strongly advised against it.

However, Andrew, confident in his ability to explain the situation and believing in his innocence, opted to proceed with the interview.

Nevertheless, Tweed made his opinions abundantly clear, firmly stating that it would not be a good idea.

When asked why the interview was not stopped during filming, Tweed admitted that he did not have an answer.

He had left after expressing his concerns and was unaware that the Newsnight interview would proceed.

Andrew, disregarding Tweed's advice, chose to meet with producer Sam McAllister and Emily Maitlis at Buckingham Palace, ultimately leading to his participation in the interview.

It is worth noting that Tweed's involvement in the show was solely as a friend of the family and not in any official or professional capacity.

While he had previously been Sarah Ferguson's business partner, his participation in the interview was not based on any professional relationship.

However, Alan Starkey, another acquaintance of Andrew's, expressed annoyance at Andrew's decision to speak publicly.

Starkey referred to the interview as “horrible” and lamented that Andrew, who is regarded as a war hero, had chosen to participate in it.

In an unusual moment, Starkey supported Andrew's claim that he does not sweat.

Starkey recounted an incident when he wrestled with Andrew aboard a mine-sweeping ship without air conditioning, and Andrew did not break a sweat.

This anecdote seemed to corroborate Andrew's previous statement about his inability to perspire.

The two-part documentary featuring Emily Maitlis delves into her career and includes her reflections on the interview with Andrew.

Maitlis believes that Andrew's decision to speak out was an attempt to repair the damage caused to his daughters' reputations due to his association with convicted s** offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In conclusion, despite being advised against it by a close friend and media law expert, Prince Andrew proceeded with the Newsnight interview, which has had long-lasting consequences.

The fallout from the interview continues to haunt him, leaving him in a difficult situation even after four years away from public life.