An infamous photograph of the former Duke of York and a teenage Virginia Giuffre has been confirmed as real by Jeffrey Epstein in a cache of emails released by the US House Oversight Committee. The 2011 messages show Epstein admitting to a journalist that Giuffre was on his plane and had her picture taken with Andrew, contradicting years of claims by the prince's allies that the image was a fake.
The photograph, first published by The Mail on Sunday in 2011, shows Andrew with his arm around Giuffre, then aged 17. Giuffre has alleged she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with Andrew, accusations the prince has consistently denied. Epstein took the photo on a disposable camera before the group went to dinner and a nightclub, according to Giuffre.
The newly unsealed emails also reveal a 2011 exchange in which Andrew begged Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to help clear his name. In one message, Andrew wrote: 'Please make sure that every statement or legal letter states clearly that I am NOT involved and that I knew and know NOTHING about any of these allegations. I can't take any more of this my end.'
Further emails show Epstein attempting to discredit Giuffre, telling a journalist she was a 'total liar' and that Buckingham Palace would 'love it' if she were proven fraudulent. Epstein also claimed Giuffre's story had 'no credibility' and was 'total horses****'. The revelations come as a significant blow to Andrew, who was stripped of his royal titles by the King following his association with Epstein.
