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Prince Andrew messaged Jeffrey Epstein after he said their contact ended

Prince Andrew told his friend Jeffrey Epstein that they would “play some more soon” in an email sent after he claimed their friendship had ended.

‘He’s a halfwit’: Prince Andrew embroiled in another scandal

Prince Andrew told his friend Jeffrey Epstein that they would “play some more soon” in an email sent two months after he claimed their friendship had ended, it has been revealed.

The disgraced Duke of York, 64, wrote to the late serial sex trafficker on the same day a photo of him with then-17-year-old Virginia Giuffre emerged, a court has heard.

Andrew initially claimed that he had cut ties with the late financier — who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and federal conspiracy charges — in December 2010, shortly after the duo was pictured taking a stroll through Central Park.

However, in late February 2011, the scandal-scarred royal wrote to the convicted pedophile, “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon.”

Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York settled a sexual assault lawsuit.
Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York settled a sexual assault lawsuit.

Epstein and Peter Mandelson, the newly-appointed British Ambassador to the US, remained in close contact until at least August 2012, records show.

The emails, seen by Bloomberg, were read aloud in a London courtroom as part of a filing by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is defending an appeal by Jes Staley, former Barclays bank worker, to the Upper Tribunal.

Staley was blocked from all senior management positions until 2023 after it emerged that he lied about his relationship with Epstein.

He claimed to have cut all ties with the billionaire “well before” he landed the CEO role at Barclays bank, however, emails disclosed in court proved otherwise.

Emails showed that the pair stayed in touch until at least 2015.

In one exchange, Epstein invited Andrew to spend time with him and Staley.

In his response, the former working royal said he and Staley were due to meet up for dinner in London’s posh Mayfair area the following night.

Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein who were friends.
Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein who were friends.

Epstein responded to Andrew on February 27, “Jes Staley will be in London on next tue afternoon, if you have time.”

Andrew wrote Epstein back to make sure he had the right date, adding, “Keep in close touch and we’ll play some more soon.”

The Post has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.

It comes after Donald Trump’s top person to run the FBI, Kash Patel, has said he is ready to investigate anyone linked to Epstein.

The younger brother of King Charles has strenuously denied claims against him and had previously insisted that he has no recollection of ever meeting Guiffre.

Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell posing for a photo.
Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell posing for a photo.

In February 2022, Giuffre and Andrew’s lawyers filed court papers stating they had reached an agreement in principle to settle the lawsuit she had filed against him.

Andrew admitted no wrongdoing but wrote in a letter that he regretted his association with Epstein, who Giuffre claims trafficked her to the royal and other rich and powerful men.

The settlement amount was not publicly disclosed, but a source told The Post at the time that it was more than $US12 million.

As a result, Andrew was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages, as well as his HRH title. He was also forced to give up his role as a working royal.

This story originally appeared in The New York Post.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/world/prince-andrew-messaged-jeffrey-epstein-after-he-said-their-contact-ended/news-story/45db91f314430cccf161aeffc8b0a3b8