Email in Epstein Files Appears to Contradict Prince Andrew's Photo Denial
A newly released email from Ghislaine Maxwell appears to directly contradict Prince Andrew's long-standing claims about a photograph with his sexual abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in April 2025. The email, part of the latest tranche of documents released by the US Department of Justice, suggests the controversial picture showing Andrew with his arm around Ms Giuffre is authentic despite the former Duke of York's previous denials.
Maxwell's Email Details the London Meeting
The email dated 10 January 2015 contains what appears to be a draft statement in which Maxwell defends herself against abuse allegations from an unidentified woman. While the name has been redacted, the details strongly indicate the woman is Virginia Giuffre. Maxwell wrote: "In 2001 I was in London when [redacted] met a number of friends of mine including Prince Andrew. A photograph was taken as I imagine she wanted to show it to friends and family."
This directly challenges Andrew's 2019 claim that he could not have been in the photograph because he was dining at a Pizza Express in Woking at the time. The former prince has consistently denied ever meeting Ms Giuffre, who alleged Andrew had sex with her when she was 17 and claimed she had been trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein.
Background of the Allegations and Legal Proceedings
Virginia Giuffre's allegations against Prince Andrew have been a persistent source of controversy since they first emerged. The key elements of this long-running scandal include:
- Ms Giuffre alleged Andrew had sexual contact with her when she was 17 years old
- She claimed Jeffrey Epstein trafficked her to the royal
- Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Ms Giuffre in 2022 that contained no admission of liability
- The former prince has vigorously denied all accusations against him
- In 2019, Andrew stated he regretted his "ill-judged association" with Epstein
In a separate legal development from 2015, Ms Giuffre filed a civil defamation claim against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend and long-time associate. This case was settled two years later without going to trial.
Additional Allegations in Latest Document Release
The latest Epstein files release contains further damaging claims against Prince Andrew. A separate document from March 2011 alleges that Andrew and Epstein engaged in a threesome with an exotic dancer. According to a legal letter from that period, Epstein introduced the dancer to the former prince, after which both men "prevailed upon her to engage in various sex acts" and "satisfied themselves."
Sky News has approached Andrew for comment regarding this specific allegation, but no response has been received at the time of reporting. The former prince continues to deny any wrongdoing related to Epstein and his criminal activities.
Recent Developments and Wider Implications
Earlier this week, Prince Andrew moved out of Royal Lodge to temporary accommodation on the Sandringham Estate, believed to be a transitional arrangement ahead of a permanent move to Norfolk. This relocation comes amid continuing scrutiny of his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
The latest document release also implicates other high-profile British figures. Peter Mandelson, the former Labour minister, is now subject to a Metropolitan Police investigation over claims he leaked highly sensitive information to Epstein while serving in public office. Additionally, Sir Keir Starmer faces pressure to publish files about his decision to appoint Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States after Labour backbenchers forced a government climbdown on Wednesday.
The emergence of Maxwell's email represents a significant development in the long-running controversy surrounding Prince Andrew's association with Jeffrey Epstein. While Andrew maintains his innocence regarding all allegations, this documentary evidence appears to directly contradict his previous statements about the photograph with Virginia Giuffre, adding another layer of complexity to this ongoing royal scandal.
