Yahoo News Emily Maitlis 'deeply chuffed' after winning award for Prince Andrew interview
The television interview that led to Prince Andrew stepping back “indefinitely” from his senior royal duties has won an award.
Emily Maitlis was awarded interview of the year at the British Journalism Awards on Wednesday afternoon, held by Press Gazette.
Press Gazette judges said: “It took huge courage and skill to undertake an interview of that stature under pressure at Buckingham Palace.”
Maitlis tweeted: “Hugely grateful to @pressgazette judges for recognising #Newsnight’s work. Thank you ! We are deeply chuffed.”
The interview, which was broadcast on BBC Newsnight in November 2019, covered the friendship between Andrew and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking offences.
Watch: Disastrous interview laid bare prince’s ‘awful personality traits’
The interview has already won a Royal Television Society Award, and was nominated for a Bafta.
Maitlis has spoken about the interview on a number of occasions and previously told the Radio Times: “We know that the palace was happy with the interview. We had plenty of engagement with them after it went out.
“I think their shock was not at the interview itself, but the reaction it caused in the days and weeks afterwards.”
During the interview, Andrew indicated he did not regret his friendship with Epstein, because it had led to good contacts.
He also claimed he could not have been in a nightclub with his accuser, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, because he does not sweat, and she had said he was sweating profusely.
Andrew has denied all allegations against him and has not been charged.
The fallout from the interview led to Andrew, 60, issuing a statement saying he would step back from his senior royal duties. He has not returned to them.
Although his daughter Princess Beatrice got married in July, he was not seen in photographs of the wedding day shared publicly.
Read more: Queen slips six places in Forbes most powerful women list for 2020
He also deferred a Royal Navy promotion he would have been given when he turned 60.
The prince has gone on to be involved in a war of words with American prosecutors who continue to investigate Epstein.
His friend Ghislaine Maxwell is in prison in New York awaiting trial on charges of helping Epstein procure underage girls.
Watch: Who is Prince Andrew?
