Prince Andrew grins on horse ride just hours before second drama about car crash Newsnight interview drops
PRINCE Andrew has been pictured grinning on horse Windsor just hours before the highly anticipated series focusing on his disastrous Newsnight interview airs.
The disgraced Duke of York was spotted waving at passers-by while riding his horse alongside a companion.
The photos were taken near his Royal Lodge home, where he was seen enjoying the activity before getting into his car and returning to his residence.
Just weeks earlier, the Duke had returned from the annual royals' break at Balmoral.
His appearance comes just hours before the release of a highly anticipated drama series focusing on his disastrous Newsnight interview.
After the success of Netflix's Scoop, Amazon Prime Video is releasing its version of the story called A Very Royal Scandal.
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NEWSNIGHT NIGHTMARE
During the notorious Newsnight interview, Andrew told Emily Maitlis that he could not have had sex with 17-year-old Virginia Giuffre because on the day she alleged it happened, he was at Pizza Express in Woking for a kids’ party with daughter Beatrice.
He also insisted that he could not have “sweated profusely” due to a medical condition he claims to have developed while serving in the Falklands War as a Navy helicopter pilot.
Andrew also defended his relationship with Epstein, saying that knowing the financier had "some seriously beneficial outcomes", but added that his reason for meeting him in 2010 was to "put an end to the friendship".
What is the difference between A Very Royal Scandal and Scoop?
A Very Royal Scandal covers Emily Maitlis’ interview of Prince Andrew from the perspective of the former BBC journalist.
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This is different from Netflix's Scoop which was based on Newsnight producer Sam McAlister’s autobiographical book, Scoops.
The Prime Video series synopsis reads: "One night. One hour. One interview that sent shockwaves around the globe.
"Based on the real-life 2019 interview between Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew over the scandalous accusations he faced regarding his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein and Virginia Giuffre.
“A Very Royal Scandal follows the action of Maitlis and Prince Andrew in the lead-up to the interview, the ground-breaking event itself and the many questions left in its wake that would change their lives forever.”
Another big difference is that for Netflix's Scoop, Sam was an executive producer, while for A Very Royal Scandal, Emily is.
The journalist revealed what it was like having her story told on screen.
Emily told The News Agents podcast: "I felt terrified, obviously. Some of the scenes are quite poignant."
She continued: "You suddenly remember you're dealing with people's lives again, and it is kind of weird thing.
"I don't mean to be all po-faced, but it is a bit weird like that. But an amazing cast."
Royal experts were quick to address the Netflix royal drama which amassed 5.8 million views in its first three days.
'ENTITLED STREAK'
One expert said the Duke of York's "terrifying" trait would be exposed in the show.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said that the Duke of York has a "terrifyingly entitled streak".
The Duke had sat down with Maitlis for a wide-ranging interview and discussed his relationship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Mr Fitzwilliams said: "He has this terrifyingly entitled streak... And I think you'll find millions tuning in again to see a depiction of it.
"The reports are that Princess Beatrice is certainly not happy with it, apparently she features."
Andrew's Bizarre Newsnight Claims
By KATIE DAVIS
PRINCE Andrew infamously claimed he couldn't sweat and rarely "partied" in his car-crash Newsnight interview - now immortalised by Netflix.
But photos appear to paint a very different picture of the Duke of York's younger days when he was branded The Playboy Prince.
The nation cringed as they watched Andrew offer bizarre defences to questions put to him by then BBC Newsnight host Emily Maitlis in 2019.
Asked about Virginia Giuffre's claims he was "sweating profusely" when they are said to have danced together at Tramp nightclub in London, the royal said he had a "peculiar medical condition".
That condition, he claimed, meant he "didn't sweat at the time".
His accuser Giuffre claims she danced with the Duke before going back to Ghislaine Maxwell's house on the night of March 10, 2001.
It was there that the notorious photo of the late Queen's favourite son with his arm around the 17-year-old Virginia was taken, as Ghislaine watched on.
Giuffre claims Jeffrey Epstein paid her around £8,000 after she had sex with Andrew.
He also famously claimed he could not have been at Tramps that night as he was at Pizza Express in Woking, Surrey.
In another cringe-worthy moment in the Newsnight interview - dramatised in the new Netflix film Scoop - Andrew claimed he rarely "partied" and wasn't a fan of public displays of affection.
But he was often snapped with his arms around glamorous women back in the day - including Heidi Klum and Chris Von Aspen.
Click here to see seven times the Prince was seen sweating and partying - despite his claims.
He added that the programme would be "very embarrassing, and it won't be helpful for the Royal Family".
Mr Fitzwilliams said that the drama will not only remind people of "how horrendous" the Newsnight interview was, but of "how entitled a member of the Royal Family can be".
He added: "Scoop is part of Netflix, and I think you'll find a lot of people, I think they'll watch it because there's been so much publicity.
"I think it will be very harmful."
But how did it happen in the first place?
‘Cut-throat journalist’
But how did it happen in the first place? The notoriously “never complain, never explain” royals allowing a cut-throat journalist to fire questions at one of them within palace walls was unheard of.
The scoop was all down to a plucky, part-time TV producer who grew up around an East End market stall — and who wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Towering blonde Sam McAlister, now 51, was then a 46-year-old single mum employed three days a week at the BBC while her own mother, Netta, looked after her young son, Lucas.
She took the bus to work, ate kebabs on her way home — and was able to bag the story of the century.
Now her memoir about the incredible 13 months of negotiations leading up to the 2019 telly grilling has been made into a film with the producer played by Billie Piper.
Sam, in her uniform of top-to-toe black leather and leopard print boots, says: “I was sitting 15ft away from Andrew’s back as Emily interviewed him. I could see every detail on his ornate chair and his foot tapping on the carpet.
“I had to set my face to freeze throughout. There were many times I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and I had to look at the floor not to give away my shock.
“It quickly became clear that Andrew was performing a masterclass on how to destroy your own life. And it was also clear that he thought it was going swimmingly.
“There was a second where I literally had to hold my breath.
“I remember thinking, ‘My God, he’s talking about sex! This is unheard of!’.”
How to watch A Very Royal Scandal
A Very Royal Scandal is a three-part drama.
The mini-series will drop on Prime Video tonight.
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Amazon Prime subscribers will be able to binge-watch all the episodes as soon as it goes live on the site.
Netflix viewers can also stream the rival show Scoop right now.
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