(no subject)
Britain's Prince Andrew regaled a bevy of media heavyweights at billionaire Jeffrey Epstein's Upper East Side townhouse the other night when he told of the royal family's joy over Prince William's upcoming wedding to Kate Middleton -- and the glamorous guests asked for invitations.
Andrewwas quizzed by guests including Katie Couric, George Stephanopoulos, Charlie Rose, Woody Allen and Chelsea Handler at the dinner thrown by Epstein, who is old friends with Prince Andrew.
Our source said, "Most of the talk started off about trade and industry, but by dessert, everybody couldn't hold back and asked him about the wedding.
"Andrew said the Queen and the royal family are delighted, Kate is a terrific girl, but they were all expecting the announcement since she and William have been together for so long," the witness said.
"While marveling at the massive interest the wedding has sparked in the US and among his companions, Andrew also compared himself to Prince Harry. He laughed, 'Like Harry, I'm just the younger brother.' "
Andrew, brother to Prince Charles, was dubbed the "Playboy Prince" and was undergoing pilot training in the Royal Air Force when Charles married Diana Spencer in 1981.
Our spy said, "He was amused that his dinner companions were so interested in every detail. What would Kate wear, what would the Queen wear, would his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson be invited? But he politely batted it away and said, 'I don't know, I've been out of [Britain] on business.' But he did say he'd be involved in planning the wedding.
"Everyone at the table, including Woody Allen, jokingly asked him for an invite to the wedding, but he just smiled." CBS anchor Couric told him she'll be broadcasting live from outside Westminster Abbey and asked, "If I c-mail your BlackBerry, will you give me the details on what is happening inside?"
Epstein, who recently finished a jail term for soliciting prostitutes, and Prince Andrew have been close friends for years. Epstein has stayed at Sandringham and vacationed with the prince in Thailand, while Andrew has visited his Manhattan home many times.