Andrew photo with Virginia Giuffre is real, Epstein email claims
By Max Stephens
Jeffrey Epstein appeared to confirm an infamous photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with his arm around Virginia Giuffre is real in leaked emails released by the US Congress last night.
The tranche of 23,000 files shed new light on the former Duke of York’s association with the convicted paedophile.
Prince Andrew with Virginia Roberts Giuffre (centre) in 2001 and Epstein’s then-personal assistant Ghislaine Maxwell.
Giuffre, who died by suicide earlier this year, claimed she had been forced to have sex with Andrew under Maxwell’s orders in London in March 2001 when she was aged 17.
The claim is a further blow to Mountbatten-Windsor, who previously suggested there may be doubt as to the authenticity of the photograph, including in his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview.
The emails also reveal Andrew told Epstein and Maxwell, “I can’t take any more of this”, during investigations into his alleged abuse.
“The girl has fled the country with an outstanding arrest warrant,” Epstein wrote to a journalist in July 2011.
“The da [sic] after she accused others, said in writing that she has no credibility, she was never 15 years old working for me, her story made it seem like she first worked for trump [sic] at that age and was met by ghislaine maxwell [sic].”
The email added: “Yes she was on my plane, and yes she had her picture taken with Andrew, as many of my employees have.”
In another email dated March 4, 2011, a Mail on Sunday journalist approached Epstein asking for comment on his, Maxwell’s and Andrew’s relationship with Giuffre.
After he was forwarded the email inquiry, Andrew appeared to respond to Maxwell, saying: “Hey there! What’s all this? I don’t know anything about this. You must SAY [sic] so please. This has NOTHING To do with me.
“I can’t take any more of this.”
Giuffre alleged, before her death in April, that she had sex with the former prince on a further two occasions: at Epstein’s townhouse in New York and again at his private island in the US Virgin Islands.
Andrew has always denied the allegations.
Andrew, stripped of his royal title by his brother, King Charles, is now facing US demands to come clean on his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.Credit: Alamy
In a separate email chain, Epstein told Andrew: “Just got it two minutes ago. I’ve asked g [sic] lawyers to send a letter.
“Not sure... it’s so salcisous [sic] and ridiculous, im [sic] not sure how to respond, the only person she didn’t have sex with was Elvis.”
Epstein, in another exchange with his publicist in July 2011, said Buckingham Palace would “love it” if Giuffre was “proven to be a liar”.
He wrote: “I think Buckingham Palace would love it.
“You should task someone to investigate the girl Virginia Roberts, that has caused the Queen’s son all this agro [sic].
“I promise you she is a fraud. You and I will be able to go to ascot [sic] for the rest of our lives.”
Andrew’s links to Epstein eventually led to the King dramatically stripping him of his titles and putting an end to his public life.
The move followed the publication of Giuffre’s posthumous memoirs and the US government’s release of documents from the paedophile’s estate.
Maxwell is serving a 20-year jail sentence for the sexual trafficking of girls on behalf of Epstein.
The Telegraph, London
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.