The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, has apologised to victims of Jeffrey Epstein for comments he made praising Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during a 2011 parliamentary debate.
Sir Ed addressed remarks he made while serving as trade minister in the coalition government.
"First of all, can I apologise to all those victims of Epstein who may have read those words and been upset by them. I really regret them," he said.
At the time, Andrew was serving as the UK's trade envoy.
The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, has apologised to victims of Jeffrey Epstein for comments he made praising Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor during a 2011 parliamentary debate.
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Sir Ed expressed considerable frustration at having been placed in such a position, describing himself as "pretty angry" about the circumstances.
He emphasised the importance of ensuring that individuals can be held accountable regardless of their status or connections.
"I think anyone who has had any comment to make on Andrew as trade envoy over the years will be pretty angry.”
The Lib Dem leader said he had drawn lessons from the experience about accountability.
The Lib Dem leader said he had drawn lessons from the experience about accountability.
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The Liberal Democrats are now demanding that documents connected to Andrew's appointment as trade envoy be made public.
Sir Ed told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme that scrutiny must begin from the very moment of the appointment to properly examine how the role was carried out.
"What we're asking today is to make sure all the documents about the vetting, the due diligence, ministerial correspondence, is in the public domain, and I think that's the right thing to do," he said.
The former Duke of York was taken into custody last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The former Duke of York was taken into custody last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
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The allegations centre on claims that he passed confidential information to Jeffrey Epstein during his period as Britain's trade envoy.
Though stripped of his royal title last year, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor remains eighth in line to the throne.
Parliamentary legislation would be necessary to exclude him entirely from the succession.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing in connection with his links to Epstein.
Support for removing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the succession has emerged across the political spectrum.
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