Royalty, Privilege & Hubris: How Prince Andrew’s Pampered Upbringing Led to That Car Crash ‘Newsnight’ Interview

One of the most stunning revelations in AEs Secrets of Prince Andrew, which aired on Aug. 21 and is now available on the AE app and AETV.com, comes just minutes into the four-hour documentary.

Sam McAlister, the Newsnight producer who was largely responsible for setting up the 2019 car-crash interview between Andrew and BBC anchor Emily Maitlis, casually divulges that it was a publicist working on Andrews behalf that first reached out to her about setting up the on-screen chat that would eventually see the British royal banished from public life.

How Andrew came to be the architect of his own downfall in more ways than one is the central theme of the doc, which was co-produced by Candle True Stories and Bitachon365. Really what were exploring in the documentary is how Andrews upbringing and the privilege and the hubris that comes with that all leads to this place where he decides to give this disastrous interview, explains Candles James Goldston, who executive produced the doc alongside Sheldon Lazarus of Bitachon365 (a Fulwell73 company).

The documentary interweaves two narratives: a biography of Queen Elizabeth IIs reportedly spoiled second son who until he was bumped down the line of succession was the spare to older brother King Charless heir, and the story behind that now infamous Newsnight interview.

Initially, McAlister turned down the publicists query after realizing the prince wanted a puff piece about his philanthropic work something hard-hitting current affairs show Newsnight never does. But, wisely, she kept in touch with Andrews team. So when his long-running friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein became the subject of renewed interest following Epsteins re-arrest and eventual death in the summer of 2019, conversations about a possible interview resumed.

The result, which aired in November of that year, was an almost hour-long discussion between Andrew and Maitlis. Recorded at his mothers residence, Buckingham Palace, it immediately turned the prince into a pariah. Not only did Andrew fail to apologize for his friendship with Epstein which continued after the financier served time for sexual offences relating to underage girls or express any concern for Epsteins many victims, but in response to Maitliss questions about an alleged sexual encounter between Andrew and a 17-year-old girl who said she was trafficked by Epstein, the royal gave a myriad of improbable answers. (Among them was that he couldnt have been perspiring profusely in a nightclub, as the girl had claimed, because he had a medical condition that prevented him from sweating. He eventually settled with his alleged victim out of court.)

The documentary includes first-hand testimony from McAlister, Maitlis, friends of Andrew and even his lawyer, Paul Tweed. The booking team also reached out to Andrew himself but perhaps sensibly, given the fall-out from his last interview he declined.

From Lazarus perspective, Secrets of Prince Andrew works better without the prince. What would we gain by getting Andrew in the chair again for him to talk about the interview that he did? says the producer. Because theres nothing better than what he [already] did, in terms of what he said, how he answered the questions. The backstory to the actual interview [is what is fascinating.]

Even though Lazarus has long finished the documentary when he speaks to Variety, he still marvels over the fact Andrews team initially thought the Newsnight interview had gone well. The fact that at the end of the interview Andews team were giving high fives around the room, he says. They asked Emily and the Newsnight team to stay behind for [the palaces weekly] movie night. They were going to get gin and teas out.

By contrast, Maitlis and her colleagues were eager to get away as quickly as possible, acutely aware that the tape in their hands was globally very significant and extraordinary, Lazarus says.

As we now know, the fall-out from the interview was catastrophic. It was undoubtedly a factor in Queen Elizabeth stripping her beloved second son of his many royal patronages and privileges. Hes used to having this big, expansive royal life, and the walls have certainly closed in, says Goldston of the ongoing impact on the prince. He cant wear his uniform, he cant be a working royal, hes been subjected to all kinds of antipathy from the public wherever he goes.

Secrets of Prince Andrew, which aired as a one-off special event, has been through many twists and turns, not least the death of the Queen herself last September, which, Lazarus says, made things a little bit easier for some of the docs contributors. Nobodys ever done a deep dive into the biographical life of Andrew, who was the Queens favourite son, says Lazarus. And you can see that in some of the features that we found. We found some extraordinary footage.

The footage, which follows Andrew from overindulged princeling to playboy prince, gives viewers some insight into the man who would eventually engineer his own undoing. Thats the one thing that really sort of brought me onto the project, says Lazarus. The fact that he actually agreed to do an interview against the advice of everybody, including his nearest and dearest. His legal representatives said, You must not do this. And that is an amazing jump-off point. Like, why would you think this was a good idea?

For Goldston, that question lies at the heart of the documentary. I think we got as close to an answer as I think you can get in terms of explaining just that kind of collision of all these events that led him to this disastrous decision, he says.

As for what the future holds for Andrew especially now his older brother, Charles, has become king is anyones guess. His lawyer thinks theres a comeback to be had, says Goldston. Who knows?

Lazarus says its not so much a question of Andrews future but whether the royal family as an institution can survive.

Its a very strange life, he says of the once-pampered prince. And hes got a very strange life now.