Edward's comments come as Andrew appears 2,000 times in latest files

NOT many people would have expected the steady, dependable Duke of Edinburgh to be the first royal to publicly comment on the latest twist in the ongoing Epstein saga.

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The youngest of Queen Elizabeth's four children, who consistently performs his duties at home and abroad without fuss or fanfare, responded to a reporter's question about his disgraced brother with dignity and poise.

Edward answered calmly, though he nervously wrung his hands as he spoke, making clear that his thoughts were with Epstein’s victims and survivors, rather than after the financier pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor, was the last time they communicated.

The then-prince told Emily Maitlis during an infamous BBC Newsnight interview in 2019 “to this day I never had any contact with him from that day forward”.

But the latest release includes emails between Epstein and a person believed to be Andrew which date from after this period. One message suggested that the paedophile advised Andrew’s businesses until at least 2017. The correspondence seems to show Andrew’s closeness to Epstein, sharing family photos and exchanging messages on Christmas Day.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the latest releases, instead pointing to its statement last October when Andrew was formally stripped of his titles by his brother, the King.

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