Emily Maitlis ‘not leaping up and down’ after Andrew arrested on his birthday
Emily Maitlis, who conducted Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s 2019 Newsnight interview, said she has concerns over people’s mental health after the arrest of the former prince
Andrew in his interview on BBC Newsnight in 2019 (file image)(Image: BBC)
The journalist who conducted Andrew Mountbatten Windsor’s 2019 Newsnight interview has commented on his arrest for the first time.
The former royal was arrested on the morning of Thursday, February 19 – his 66th birthday – on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Emily Maitlis said she feels “concerned” following the announcement. Speaking on LBC, she said: “I think one of the reasons I’m gobsmacked is because there is something very personal in this as well.”
Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings.
“We talk a lot about people’s state of mind and health and all the rest of it. I feel concern actually, as I’m watching this story unfold,” she added.
“I suppose that two things can be simultaneously true, that it can have been a long time coming, but when it does, there is somebody at the centre of it and it is a father and there are children and there is a mental health question.”
It has been widely reported, from documents released by the United States Department of Justice in connection to its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, that Andrew shared confidential information with the disgraced financier during his time as a trade representative for the United Kingdom.
The former prince served as UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. It has not been confirmed what the arrest was in specific relation to.
News that the former prince was arrested by Thames Valley police emerged at about 10am on Thursday. The police said in a statement they had arrested “a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office”.
Thames Valley Police released another statement saying the man had been released under investigation.
Emily said: “I suppose that’s what’s holding me back a bit and saying, this is a pretty serious moment. It’s a grave moment. It’s not a jumping up and down moment.”
She recently said that she thinks that King Charles has stopped protecting his younger brother Andrew as she claimed the monarch sent a clear message when he stripped his brother of his titles, the Express reported.
She said on LBC: “I think from the moment that they took the title away what they were essentially saying was whoever needs to talk to him, you come and get him. It does not come back to me – as in King Charles.”
Following Andrew’s arrest, the British Monarch said “the law must take its course”.
“I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office,” he said.
“Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter.”
It is understood that Buckingham Palace, and the King, were not informed in advance of Andrew’s arrest.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .
