Prince Charles released an official statement to a British inquiry that is investigating the rampant child sex abuse by his former-confidant, Bishop Peter Ball.

The Prince of Wales claims that he had been "deceived" by the religious figure and in no way hindered the investigation against him. The 86-year-old bishop is currently in prison for admitting to sexually abusing 18 young men over a span of 30 years. Ball, who was a Bishop for the Church England, was also a valued confidant to the British Royal Family. 

Prince Charles said, "Throughout my life my position has occasionally brought me into contact with prominent people who have subsequently been accused of serious wrong doing."

"Rather than rushing to private judgement I have always taken the view that the judicial process should take its course," he explained, according to the BBC.

Although Ball had been accused of and accepted caution for an act of "gross indecency" in 1993, Prince Charles claims he was unaware of the severity of the Bishop's crimes until his conviction in 2015.