Prince Edward has become the first member of the Royal Family to speak out on the Epstein scandal saying it’s “really important always to remember the victims”.

It came as the Duke of Edinburgh was appearing at the World Governments Summit in Dubai today as pressure mounts on his older brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to speak out on how much he knew about the paedophile billionaire. At the summit, he was asked “how are you coping” amid the release of the new files. And Edward said: “Well, with the best will in the world, I’m not sure this is the audience that is probably the least bit interested in that.

“‘They all came here to listen to education, solving the future, but no, I think it’s all really important always to remember the victims and who are the victims in all this? A lot of victims in this.”

Andrew has been urged by US politicians and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to testify before the US Congress and clarify his friendship with Epstein. The former Duke of York has repeatedly and strongly denied any wrongdoing regarding his association with Epstein.

Andrew’s reputation has been tarnished after his close association and friendship with Epstein emerged in the late 2010s. But the release of the Epstein Files revealed Andrew had been in contact with the convicted child sex offender after he claimed to have cut off contact with him.

The latest Epstein Files dump has put further pressure on Andrew as pictured emerged appearing to show the former Duke of York hovered on all fours above a female laid face-up on the floor. Epstein was also found to have been emailed by Epstein who discussed introducing him to a “beautiful and trustworthy” 26-year-old Russian woman.

A second woman has threatened legal action against Andrew after she claimed Epstein had flown her to the UK for sex. The woman, who was unnamed, said she went to Buckingham Palace for tea following the encounter, which allegedly happened in 2010 when she was in her 20s. Andrew has consistently denied all wrongdoing.

Edward’s comments on the scandal came after CNN reporter Eleni Giokos directly asked the Duke of Edinburgh, who is currently on a trip to the United Arab Emirates, about his younger brother and the scandal during an appearance on a panel about education at a summit.

She said: “I have to say this, and it’s super important, because, you know, it’s been dominating headlines. We all know the last few days have been very interesting, very difficult.

“And I’m sure for you Sir as well, this is an important question to ask, and I want to ask it in the context of what we’ve seen from Their Majesties and their response. And they’re saying that we should be focused specifically on experience of the victims.

“The palace has been very, very clear on that. We’ve just heard some commentary from Prime Minister Keir Starmer as well, and bearing that in mind, and he’s saying that there needs to be assistance for the victims. And I wonder what you think of this, because it is so close to home, clearly very difficult. And I know you’ve put in various plans in place to move the institution forward, but how are you coping with that?”

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the latest information from the latest Epstein Files dump. Royal sources told the Daily Mail that “providing testimony is now a matter for Andrew and his conscience.”

At the end of October, the King officially stripped his disgraced Andrew of his HRH style and his prince title, and removed his dukedom from the Roll of the Peerage over his “serious lapses” of judgement regarding his association with Epstein.

A statement from the Palace at the time said: “Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”