Britain's Prince Andrew 'appalled' by Epstein abuse claims
Prince Andrew
Britain'sPrinceAndrewhas said he was "appalled" by allegations of sexualabuse surrounding JeffreyEpsteinafter a video was released purporting to show him at the home of the convicted paedophile in 2010.
"TheDuke of Yorkhas beenappalledby the recent reports of JeffreyEpstein's alleged crimes," Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Monday.
"His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent," the statement said.
The grainy video published by the Mail on Sundayclaimsto show theprincewaving goodbye to a woman as she leavesEpstein's New York mansion in 2010.
Epsteinhad pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring for prostitution a girl under the age of 18 and served 13 months in prison before being released on probation.
The video was the latest in a string of revelations aboutPrinceAndrew's friendship withEpsteinin British tabloids.
The Mail on Monday said theprincehad hostedEpsteinat Balmoral, Queen Elizabeth II's home in Scotland, in 1999 at a time when the monarch may have been in residence.
He also reportedly hostedEpsteinat Sandringham, another royal residence in eastern England, a year later.