A newly released black-and-white photograph from the vast trove of Jeffrey Epstein documents appears to show Prince Andrew smiling while reclining on a bench, with the now-jailed Ghislaine Maxwell looking on nearby.
Image Emerges in Mass Document Dump
The image was part of a cache of approximately 300,000 new files released by the US Department of Justice. It depicts the former Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, in a relaxed pose. The photograph's emergence adds a new visual element to the long-running scandal surrounding the prince's association with the convicted sex offender and his accomplice.
Background of Allegations and Denials
For years, Prince Andrew has faced serious allegations, most notably from Virginia Giuffre. She claims she was trafficked by Epstein and sexually assaulted by the prince while she was a teenager. Andrew has consistently and strenuously denied all accusations.
However, in 2022, he paid a multi-million pound settlement to Ms Giuffre to resolve a civil sexual assault case she filed against him in the United States. The prince did not admit to any wrongdoing as part of that settlement.
Ongoing Royal Fallout and Scrutiny
The prince's ties to Epstein first caused major controversy following his widely criticised 2019 interview with the BBC's Newsnight programme. That appearance led to his decision to step back from all public royal duties.
Public and media scrutiny has been renewed in recent times. This is due to two key factors: the posthumous publication of Virginia Giuffre's memoir and the ongoing release of official documents from Epstein's estate by US authorities. These developments continue to cast a long shadow over the royal family and keep the focus firmly on Andrew's past associations.
