Prince Andrew will be interviewed by Newsnight reporter Emily Maitlis (Picture: BBC)

Prince Andrew will speak for the time about his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein in a "no holds barred" interview for the BBC on Saturday.

The 59-year-old royal will discuss his relationship with the disgraced billionaire, who killed himself in August while being held on child sex-trafficking charges.

The Prince will also be quizzed on the accusations of abuse that have been made against him personally.

The Duke of York’s interview with Newsnight reporter Emily Maitlis will be shown on BBC2 on Saturday night.

Ms Maitlis said no questions had been vetted before the prince was interviewed for the "no holds barred" programme.

The interview has already taken place in an unspecified location.

Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied accusations made by Virginia Roberts-Giuffre they had sex when she was 17.

The claims were also struck out by a US court in 2015.

View photos Prince Andrew, Duke of York, at the parade on the market and flowers at the Charles II monument during the commemorative celebration of 75 years of liberation of Brugge, Belgium (Picture: AP) More

Ms Roberts-Giuffre, now 35, alleged the royal was one of a number of powerful men that Epstein “lent” her out to.

The Duke of York was previously pictured with Ms Roberts at an Epstein party when she was 17.

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Prince Andrew, who was also pictured with Epstein in 2010 after he had been put on the sex offender’s register, denied he ever saw the fund manager abusing girls.

He said: "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."

A previous Buckingham Palace statement said: "The Duke of York has been appalled by the recent reports of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged crimes."

"His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent.”

View photos Jeffrey Epstein killed himself in August while being held on sex-trafficking charges (Picture: AP) More

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

By 2007, Epstein was facing a potential federal indictment for sexually abusing dozens of girls between 1999 and 2007.

Epstein struck a deal to plead guilty in 2008 to the Florida state felony prostitution charge, and register as a sex offender.

Epstein has denied accusations he had ran an international child sex ring.