Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s comments about ending child abuse have resurfaced from the same year he met Jeffrey Epstein.
The disgraced ex-prince became the patron of the UK’s National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s (NSPCC) Full Stop campaign from 1999 until 2009, which worked to crack down on cruelty against children.
The then-Duke of York launched the initiative in March of that year, saying, “As the father of two young children, I simply could not sit back and do nothing.”
“We have to make sure that our children don’t accept abuse,” he added to OK! Magazine, as reported by the Daily Express.
“They should not have to take responsibility for their own protection. It’s the sinister stuff that goes on behind closed doors that we need to worry about.”
Peter Mandelson was also involved in the campaign, serving as vice-chairman.
Andrew met Epstein that same year through Ghislaine Maxwell, whom the prince had known since she was studying at the University of Oxford.
The men struck up a friendship and Andrew visited Epstein’s homes in New York, Florida and the Virgin Islands.
In 2000, Andrew hosted Epstein at Windsor Castle and then at a Sandringham shooting weekend for Maxwell’s 40th birthday.
During his infamous BBC Newsnight interview, journalist Emily Maitlis confronted Andrew on the friendship, stating that it is now known Epstein was procuring young girls for sex trafficking at that time.
“We now know that, at the time, there was no indication to me or anybody else that that was what he was doing,” the 66-year-old responded.
“And if there was, you have to remember that at the time I was patron of the NSPCC’s Full Stop campaign.
“I was close up with what was going on in those times about getting rid of abuse of children, so I knew what the things were to look for, but I never saw them.”
Giles Pegram, the NSPCC’s former director of fundraising, who was responsible for Andrew’s campaign, said he now “regrets” involving the ex-Duke and Mandelson.
“If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn’t have done it. If there was a scandal that was related to children, we wouldn’t have come within a mile of it,” he told the Sunday Times.
“I’m absolutely horrified [that] on one visit, he could be helping the NSPCC one moment and then going off with Jeffrey Epstein the next.”
Following revelations in the Epstein files, Andrew was stripped of his titles and arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in February.
He is accused of sharing confidential information with Epstein during his time as a UK trade envoy, and remains under investigation.
Mandelson was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after being fired from his role as the UK’s US ambassador.
Andrew and Mandelson have both denied any wrongdoing.