Prince Andrews alibi and British ex-consul general says he doesnt recall royal staying at his home on New York trip

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PRINCE Andrews alibi may have been weakened after British ex-consul general said he “doesnt recall” the royal staying at his home during his New York trip.

The globe-trotting Prince flew to New York in 2001 for a three-day tour that ended in Boston on behalf of the Outward Bound Trust –of which he is the patron.

During Saturday’s “car crash” of an interview with BBCs Emily Maitlis, Prince Andrew said: “I think the date we have for that shows that I was in Boston or I was in New York the previous day, and I was at a dinner for the Outward Bound Trust in New York and then I flew up to Boston the following day.

“Because of what I was doing, I was staying with the consul-general, which is further down the street (from Epsteins home).

“So I wasnt staying there (at Epsteins home). I may have visited but no, definitely didnt, definitely, definitely, no, no, no activity.”

‘NO RECOLLECTION’ OF ANDREW’S STAY

However the royal’s claims have not been held up at the other end, as one of the most respected British diplomats of his generation, Sir Thomas, who served in New York from 1999 to 2004, told the Daily Mail he has “no recollection” of the prince staying at his official residence during the trip

He said: “It doesnt sound as if he stayed with me. I dont recall him staying with me.”

Sir Thomas, 74, admitted he no longer had a copy of his 2001 diary, so was unable to be certain about comings and goings that occurred at his official residence 18 years ago.

Sir Thomas did point out, however, that prominent overnight stays by royals at a consul-generals residence tend to be formally registered in the Court Circular.

No such stays were pencilled into the Court Circular for the dates of April 9-11 2001, when the duke was carrying out formal engagements in the US.

He added: “Normally, I would give him a dinner party in the evening,” he said, noting that the absence of records of such an event “makes me suspect he wasnt with me that night”.

“If he stayed with me, we would normally arrange for businesses to come in. My understanding is that it would be in the Court Circular.

“I have no recollection of him staying at the address in April. I dont have a note of the dates of all the visits the Palace will. It doesnt ring any bell whatsoever.”

NOT ADDING UP

The Court Circular from the time shows he flew to New York on the morning of April 9 which would have landed in New York just after lunchtime local time.

The same day, Virginia also flew to New York, according to flight records.

She and Epstein left his mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, and the flight log shows they flew aboard his 22-seat Gulfstream to New York via Atlantic City.

Official state paperwork reportedly listsno official engagements for Prince Andrewfor the rest of that day after he landed.

In the Newsnight interview, the Duke said: I think that the date we have for that (the New York encounter) shows that I was in Boston or I was in New York the previous day and I was at a dinner for The Outward Bound Trust in New York.

“Then I flew up to Boston the following day and then on the day that she says that this occurred, theyd already left to go the island before I got back from Boston.

“So I dont think that could have happened at all.

ANDREW QUITS ROYAL DUTIES

The whirlwind of backlash following the interview has prompted the royal to “step back” from his royal duties.

The Queen’s favourite son announced he asked the monarch for permission to ‘step back’ from royal life and is ready to help cops investigating the dead paedo.

In a bombshell statement the Prince said: “It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my familys work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support.

“Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission.

“I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein.”

He continued: “His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathise with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure.

“I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives.

“Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required.”

Prince Andrew has suggested that the photo of him with his arm around 17-year-old sex slave Virginia Roberts is fake

Prince Andrew has suggested that the photo of him with his arm around Roberts is fake

Prince Andrew pictured on April 11, 2001, with students and faculty of Outward Bound on Thompson Island near Boston

Columnist Cindy Adams, right, and Sir Thomas Harris attend the East Coast BAFTAs in 2004