FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York visits the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital to open the new Stanmore Building, in London, Britain March 21, 2019. David Mirzoeff/ Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

BIARRITZ, France (Reuters) - Prince Andrew has done good work for British businesses overseas, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday, after weeks of scrutiny over the friendship between Queen Elizabeth’s second son and U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew issued a lengthy statement on Saturday about his relationship with Epstein, who committed suicide in a Manhattan jail earlier this month while being held on sex-trafficking charges.

Asked during media interviews at the G7 Summit in France whether he had confidence in Andrew, Johnson told ITV News: “I’ve worked with Prince Andrew, I’ve seen the good he has been able to do for UK business overseas.

“I have no comment, or indeed no knowledge of this other stuff,” he added.