Prince Andrew makes first royal overseas visit since Jeffrey Epstein scandal broke

Jimmy Nsubuga
Updated
Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York, attends a ceremony
The Duke of York did not answer any questions from the media (Picture: Getty)

Prince Andrew has made his first royal overseas visit since the scandal over his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein re-emerged.

The Duke of York attended a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Bruges.

The royal, who was present in his role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, laid a wreath at the Charles II memorial in the Belgian city on Saturday morning.

He did not respond when he was asked by a journalist if he would co-operate with lawyers in America over the Epstein scandal.

Prince Andrew attends a ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Bruges
Prince Andrew attends a ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Bruges (Picture: Getty)

Buckingham Palace has been forced to issue strong denials over allegations made by Virginia Roberts in court papers in Florida she was forced to have sex with Andrew when she was 17, which is under the age of consent in the state.

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The palace called the allegations “false and without any foundation”, saying “any suggestion of impropriety with under-age minors” by the duke was “categorically untrue”.

Andrew said in a statement on August 24: “At no stage during the limited time I spent with him did I see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to (Epstein’s) arrest and conviction.”

Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York, attends a ceremony
It was his first royal overseas visit since the Epstein scandal broke (Picture: Getty)

Epstein, who was was found hanged in his cell on August 10 in New York while facing charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy, admitted prostituting minors in 2008 and spent 18 months in prison.

Andrew, who has categorically denied any wrongdoing, has faced criticism in recent weeks about his links with Epstein.

He was photographed with the billionaire in New York’s Central Park in December 2010 following Epstein's release from prison.

Andrew is due to take part in a private ceremony this afternoon at the Guild of Saint Sebastian to raise the British and Belgian flags.