'Disappointed' Emily Maitlis slams Prince Andrew for Newsnight interview 'contradictions'

express.co.uk:

BBC journalist Emily Maitlis posed tough questions to Prince Andrew in her Newsnight interview after a sex trafficking scandal astonished the world.

However, she is now left wondering why the royal, who was so adamant that there had been no wrong-doing on his part, did such a dramatic U-turn and opted out of defending his reputation in court in favour of a reported £12 million payout."I won't lie - a bit of me is journalistically disappointed we won't get to see how this story played out," Emily told the BBC in the aftermath of Andrew's decision to make an out of court settlement."It now means that the words he said in that Newsnight interview, over two years ago, may come to be the only testimony we have."She added that there would have been "huge satisfaction" in "an ending - any ending", although all she is left with now is a question mark."At the heart of the settlement is the biggest question of all: why is a prince who told me he had 'no recollection of ever meeting this lady' now paying her what we understand to be upwards of £10m?"I distinctly remember putting Virginia Giuffre's accusations to him directly: 'She says she met you in 2001, she dined with you, danced with you, you bought her drinks in Tramp nightclub and she went on to have sex with you in a house in Belgravia.'"And I have the Prince's reply in front of me now.Three words only: 'It didn't happen.'She mused: "Either he was lying in that response - and remembered her well."Or he genuinely had no recollection - and was adamant they hadn't met - only for his memory subsequently to be jogged."Or [it's] that he maintains his innocence, but feels the weight of legal and public opinion against him now make settling the easier option, albeit without.