Prince Andrew's decision to step back from public duties is "welcome news" and a "positive first step" but based on "only a half truth", according to the lawyer of his accuser.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre claims she was trafficked by the Duke of York's former friend, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and forced to have sex with a number of his associates, including Andrew, when she was 17.
She claimed she met the prince in a London nightclub in 2001 and they had a sexual encounter at the home of his friend Ghislaine Maxwell.
In a TV interview last Saturday, the prince said he did not recall ever meeting Ms Roberts Giuffre, insisted the alleged encounter did not happen, and also said he did not regret his friendship with Epstein, who killed himself in prison earlier this year.
The prince, who spoke publicly about his relationship with Epstein for the first time to Newsnight, was later criticised for not showing compassion for Epstein's victims.
Ms Roberts Giuffre's lawyer, David Boies, said: "Prince Andrew's recent interview and his subsequent action to withdraw from public life is welcome news. It is a positive first step towards taking responsibility for his actions.
"However, basing his decision to step away from his duties due to his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein is only a half truth.
"He clearly had a long-term association with Ghislaine Maxwell who we maintain was Epstein's co-conspirator and played a central role in devastating the lives of countless women."
Ms Maxwell has previously denied any wrongdoing and her current whereabouts are unknown.
The prince was seen in public earlier on Thursday, leaving his house, the Royal Lodge, in Windsor.
It was the first time he has been spotted since his decision to stand down from his positions, following the widely criticised TV interview over his relationship with Epstein.
Other members of the Royal Family continued their duties on Thursday, including the Queen who awarded an OBE at Buckingham Palace to a senior police officer who led the UK response to the 2015 terror attacks in Tunisia.
Prince William was at the annual Tusk Conservation Awards in Leicester Square, central London.
The Duke of Cambridge did not speak to members of the public who were waiting outside the event at a cinema.
The Duchess of Cambridge was unable to attend the ceremony due to an undisclosed matter relating to their children.
Princess Anne has also been in central London but she refused to answer reporters' questions.
The duke has resigned from another position as part of his decision to step back from royal duties.
The Outward Bound Trust has accepted his resignation, saying they thanked him for "his support over many years".
It follows the University of Huddersfield confirming that Andrew will no longer serve as chancellor.
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On Wednesday, Andrew, who was accused of "utterly lacking in compassion" for the victims of the late billionaire Epstein, said his association with the disgraced financier has "become a major disruption to my family's work".
He said he "deeply sympathises" with Epstein's victims and is "willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required".
The prince is not under investigation and has denied any wrongdoing.
Epstein, who was found hanged in prison in August, was awaiting trial accused of trafficking girls as young as 14 for sex and had previously served time in prison in 2008 for prostituting underage girls.
In his interview with Newsnight, the prince said he thought visiting Epstein in 2010 to end their friendship was "the honourable thing to do".
He said he "let the side down" by staying at the billionaire's New York mansion, but said he had done so because it was "convenient".
When asked whether he had sex with Ms Roberts Giuffre after meeting in a London nightclub in 2001, he said the alleged encounter did not happen.
He said he had been in Pizza Express in Woking that afternoon with his daughter, Princess Beatrice, and was then at home that evening.
Andrew also suggested a photo of him and Ms Roberts Giuffre together apparently at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell may have been doctored.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that Prince Andrew will continue to work on Pitch@palace because this was a private initiative and not a specific official royal one, Sky's royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills said.
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November 22, 2019 at 05:46AM
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Prince Andrew stepping away from public duties is based 'on a half truth', says accuser's lawyer - Sky News
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