Prince Andrew denies seeing any sex crimes during time with Epstein

Prince Andrew said on Saturday he never saw or suspected any sex crimes during the time he spent with U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew has faced weeks of scrutiny over his friendship withEpstein, who committed suicide in a Manhattan jail cell earlierthis month while being held on sex-trafficking charges.

Andrew, who is the second son of Queen Elizabeth, issued alengthy statement saying he wanted to "clarify the facts" aroundhis relationship with Epstein.

"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 his arrest and conviction," the statementsaid.

British media, including the Daily Mail, published a picture which they said showed Andrew waving goodbye to a woman from inside a Manhattan mansion owned by Epstein.

The Mail said the picture had been taken in 2010 two yearsafter Epstein pleaded guilty to a Florida state felony prostitution charge and registered as a sex offender.

Andrew, 59, said it was a "mistake and error" to see Epsteinin 2010 after he pleaded guilty to paying a teenage girl for sex.

'I sympathize,' prince says

He said that he first met Epstein in 1999, saw him once ortwice a year and had stayed in a number of his properties.

"His suicide has left many unanswered questions and Iacknowledge and sympathize with everyone who has been affectedand wants some form of closure," said Andrew, whose title is theDuke of York.

His statement on Saturday was issued just days afterBuckingham Palace issued a statement in which Andrew rejected any suggestion that he participated in the alleged sex crimesof which Epstein was accused.

Epstein first came under investigation in 2005 after policein Palm Beach, Florida, received reports he had sexually abusedunderage girls in his mansion there.

By 2007, Epstein was facing a potential federal indictmentfor sexually abusing dozens of girls between 1999 and 2007. Epstein struck a deal, however, to plead guilty in 2008 to theFlorida state felony prostitution charge, and register as a sexoffender.He served 13 months behind bars.

Epstein, 66,was awaiting trial on new charges for sex traffickinginvolving dozens of girlswhen he was found dead in his cell on Aug. 10. The coroner later ruled he died after hanging himself. Epstein had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Read Prince Andrew'sfull statement: