In a stunning development that threatens to unravel years of carefully constructed denials, newly released emails confirm that Jeffrey Epstein himself verified the authenticity of the infamous photograph showing Prince Andrew with his arm around teenage Virginia Giuffre.
The Bombshell Admission
The disgraced financier, in 2011 correspondence made public by the US House Oversight Committee, explicitly acknowledged the photograph's legitimacy while attempting to discredit Giuffre's broader allegations. Epstein told a journalist investigating the story: 'Yes she was on my plane, and yes she had her picture taken with Andrew, as many of my employees have.'
This admission directly contradicts years of efforts by Prince Andrew's allies to cast doubt on the photograph's authenticity. The image, showing the then-Duke of York with his arm around a 17-year-old Giuffre at Ghislaine Maxwell's London home in 2001, has become central to the sexual assault allegations that have ended Andrew's public life.
Desperate Pleas and Coordinated Responses
The email cache reveals a coordinated effort between Andrew, Epstein and Maxwell to manage the fallout when The Mail on Sunday first broke the story in 2011. As the newspaper sought comment for its world exclusive, Andrew emailed both Epstein and Maxwell begging them to clear his name, writing in desperation: 'I can't take any more of this.'
In the March 2011 email chain, Maxwell initially forwarded the Mail's press inquiry to Epstein, who then sent it to someone listed as 'the Duke'. The recipient, believed to be Andrew, responded: 'What? I don't know any of this. How are you responding?'
Epstein advised: 'Just got it two minutes ago. I've asked g lawyers to send a letter.' He then added the remarkable statement: 'Not sure... it's so salcisous and ridiculous, im not sure how to respond, the only person she didn't have sex with was Elvis.'
An exasperated Andrew then appears to reply to Epstein, saying: '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.'
Campaign to Discredit Accuser
Just months later in July 2011, the emails show Epstein actively lobbying journalists to investigate and discredit Giuffre. In one particularly damning exchange, Epstein tells a reporter that Buckingham Palace would 'love it' if Andrew's accuser was 'proven to be a liar'.
The email reads: '...Andrew's accuser, criminal record, total liar. 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.'
Epstein promised the journalist: 'I promise you she is a fraud. You and I will be able to go to ascot for the rest of our lives.' When the journalist expressed interest, Epstein followed up the same day claiming her story had 'no credibility' and was 'total horses****'.
He specifically addressed the photograph controversy, writing: '...she was never 15 years old working for me, her story made it seem like she first worked for trump at that age and was met by ghislaine maxwell.' He concluded: 'I will ask if they will cooperate - Prince people.'
Devastating Consequences
The latest revelations represent a catastrophic blow to Andrew's already shattered reputation. His association with Epstein ultimately led to King Charles dramatically stripping him of his royal titles, effectively ending his public life and forcing his retreat from royal duties.
The continuing scrutiny over Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's links to Epstein now threatens their residence at the palatial Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, which they have occupied for over two decades. Furthermore, members of US Congress are demanding Andrew appear before them to 'come clean and provide justice for the survivors'.
The 23,000-page email release also implicates former US ambassador Lord Mandelson deeper into the scandal, showing he remained in contact with Epstein as late as 2016 - years after the financier's conviction for sex offences. The correspondence reveals Mandelson took relationship advice from the paedophile and urged him to steer clear of Andrew.
In one November 2016 exchange, Epstein writes to Mandelson: 'you were right about staying away from Andrew. I was right in your staying with Rinaldo,' referencing Mandelson's partner Reinaldo Avilda da Silva. This contradicts Mandelson's previous attempts to distance himself from Epstein, having previously claimed he felt 'utterly awful about my association with Epstein 20 years ago'.
The newly unsealed documents from Epstein's estate provide the most comprehensive picture to date of the coordinated efforts to protect Prince Andrew from allegations that would ultimately destroy his royal career and forever tarnish his reputation.
