Almost five years after the allegations first appeared in court documents accusing Prince Andrew of having sex on multiple occasions with a child, he finally broke his silence by speaking with BBC News.

In a “no holds barred” interview with BBC’s Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis, scheduled to air on Saturday, Prince Andrew said, “I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever.” He admitted that he “let the side down” by continuing his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein after he was convicted for soliciting sex from a minor.

Prince Andrew said, “The problem was the fact that once he had been convicted I stayed with him,” and admitted he kicks himself daily,“because it was not something that was becoming of the royal family.” Prince Andrew added, “We try to uphold the highest standards and practices and I let the side down.”

The Duke of York was photographed with his arm around Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s waist when she was only 17 years old. Giuffre claims he had sex with her on three different occasions and participated in an orgy with her and eight other girls.

Maitlis repeated the claims of Giuffre’s, “She met you in 2001, she says she dined with you, danced with you at Tramp Nightclub in London. She went on to have sex with you in a house in Belgravia.”

Maitlis asked, “You don’t remember meeting her?”

Andrew responded, “No.”

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Andrew felt he needed to explain what he knew about his friend. He was Epstein’s friend for years, and he visited Epstein’s island, Little St. James, several times. Records show Epstein’s little black book had 13 contact numbers for Prince Andrew.

Two years after Epstein’s prison release, Prince Andrew was filmed waving to a young girl standing inside Epstein’s Manhattan apartment in 2010. The video was leaked to Mail Online. The same year, Epstein and the prince were also photographed as they strolled around Central Park.

“I met Mr Epstein in 1999. During the time I knew him, I saw him infrequently and probably no more than only once or twice a year. I have stayed in a number of his residences,” Prince Andrew stated

“I have said previously that it was a mistake and an error to see him after his release in 2010 and I can only reiterate my regret that I was mistaken to think that what I thought I knew of him was evidently not the real person, given what we now know,” he said.

“I have tremendous sympathy for all those affected by his actions and behaviour.”

Another woman, Johanna Sjoberg, accused Andrew of grouping her breast while they sat on a sofa at Epstein’s mansion in 2001. Sjoberg’s claim was included in a defamation case made against Epstein’s ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell in 2015. Buckingham Palace denied the claim.

On Friday, Prince Andrew’s former wife Sarah Ferguson tweeted, “It is so rare to meet people that are able to speak from their hearts with honesty+pure real truth, that remain steadfast and strong to their beliefs. Andrew is a true+real gentleman and is stoically steadfast to not only his duty but also his kindness + goodness.”

The statement from Buckingham Palace about Guiffre’s allegations reads: “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.”