A newly released photograph from the trove of documents related to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein appears to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the King's brother, in a compromising social setting. The image, part of a major document dump by the US Department of Justice, seems to depict the former prince lying across the laps of several individuals, with convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell looking on in the background.
Details of the Released Photograph and Files
The undated picture, which is a photograph of a framed image, shows Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor reclining on his side across five people, with his head positioned near a woman's lap. He is smiling with his eyes closed. In the background, Ghislaine Maxwell appears to be peering down at the scene with a smile.
This image was included in a massive release of court records, footage, and photographs uploaded to the US Justice Department website on Friday night. The site experienced an "extremely high volume of search requests," holding users in a virtual queue. The release was mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required all files from the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein to be made public by midnight on Friday.
US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that "several hundred thousand" documents would be released ahead of the legal deadline, with thousands more to follow in the coming weeks to protect victims' identities.
Wider Context and Political Reaction
The document release has ignited fresh scrutiny and criticism. Among the hundreds of photos are undated images of Maxwell outside 10 Downing Street and posing with former US President Bill Clinton and actor Kevin Spacey. A spokesperson for Clinton asserted he had cut ties with Epstein before the financier's crimes came to light.
However, the release has faced backlash for its extensive redactions. Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who pressed for the disclosure law, criticised the Justice Department, saying it "grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law." Lawyers for Epstein's victims have also expressed frustration at the heavily censored files.
This latest batch follows a separate release of 68 images from Epstein's estate by the Democrats just a day earlier, which included pictures of billionaire Bill Gates and philosopher Noam Chomsky.
Ongoing Fallout for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
For Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the release adds another layer to the long-standing controversy surrounding his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The former prince has strenuously denied allegations that he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre, a teenager trafficked by Epstein. He paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault claim with her in 2022, despite claiming never to have met her.
The renewed focus from these document dumps has kept pressure on the royal. He stepped down from public duties in 2019 following a disastrous BBC Newsnight interview and was later stripped of his HRH style and prince title by King Charles III. Furthermore, US politicians have recently criticised his "silence" after he missed a deadline to respond to a request for an interview about Epstein.
Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
