Emily Maitlis opens up on details of Prince Andrew interview
Emily Maitlis has said she was so focused on her conduct in her interview with Prince Andrew, it was only afterwards she realised the gravity of what had happened.
The 2019 interview that saw the royal discuss his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein was branded a "car-crash" by commentators and in the aftermath, the Duke of York stepped back from his royal duties.
But Maitlis, 49, has said Prince Andrew was "very pleased" with how it had gone at the time in a new interview with Tatler.
Read more: Emily Maitlis ‘bias’ claims dismissed by BBC
Speaking on how she was perceiving the interview at the time, the journalist explained: "You’re so determined not to miss a beat, to check with yourself you haven’t used the wrong tone or got something stupendously wrong, that actually you’re not sitting there grinning, thinking, ‘Hahaha! That’s amazing!’”
The Newsnight presenter added to the publication that Andrew was keen to give her a tour of Buckingham Palace and also said they would discuss Prince Albert “next time” she came.
The interview has been nominated for a Bafta in the news category, with the ceremony set to take place on 31 July. It's already picked up the accolade for Interview of the Year at the Royal Television Society Journalism Awards.
Maitlis also scooped the gong for Network Presenter of the Year at the prize-giving.
It wasn't just Andrew who was reportedly satisfied with it either as Maitlis has also said palace aides were "happy" with the interview too before the public reaction.
She told Radio Times: "I think their shock was not at the interview itself, but the reaction it caused in the days and weeks afterwards.”
Read more: Prince Andrew absent from Princess Beatrice’s wedding photos
Earlier this month saw Prince Andrew's website, dukeofyork.org, taken down and the link now redirects to his profile page on the royal.uk website which lists all working Royal Family members.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the contract with the host provider came to an end and was not renewed.