Newly released files linked to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein include photographs that appear to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling on all fours over an unidentified woman, further intensifying long-standing scrutiny of his relationship with Epstein.
The images form part of the latest batch of documents released by the US Department of Justice, comprising more than three million pages and approximately 180,000 images. In two of the photographs, Mountbatten-Windsor appears to be touching the woman who is fully clothed on her stomach.
In another image, he is seen staring directly into the camera. No contextual information accompanies the photographs, and it remains unclear when or where they were taken, or under what circumstances.
The lack of context has not prevented renewed public and media attention on Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew and the Duke of York, who has faced years of criticism over his past friendship with Epstein. BBC News has approached Mountbatten-Windsor for comment.
He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his honorary military titles and royal patronages in October following increasing scrutiny of his links to Epstein and public pressure on the Royal Family.Alongside the photographs, the document release includes email exchanges that appear to show Epstein arranging introductions between Mountbatten-Windsor and young women.
One series of emails, dated August 2010, suggests Epstein invited Mountbatten-Windsor to dinner with a 26-year-old Russian woman.
The correspondence occurred two years after Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to soliciting a minor and just one month after he completed his sentence.
The BBC has not been able to independently verify the authenticity of the emails.In the exchange, Epstein describes the woman as “26, Russian, clever, beautiful, trustworthy,” and suggests that Mountbatten-Windsor “might enjoy having dinner with her” while she was visiting London.
The account identified as “The Duke” responds that he would be in Geneva until 22 August but would be “delighted to see her,” asking whether she would be bringing a message from Epstein and requesting additional information about her.
Epstein replies that the woman already had Mountbatten-Windsor’s email address.Another email exchange dated September 2010 appears to show Epstein seeking a private meeting in London.
Epstein writes that he is in the city and asks what time he and a redacted individual should visit, adding that they “will also need/have private time.” The account labelled “The Duke” responds that he is departing Scotland and suggests dinner at Buckingham Palace, noting it would offer “lots of privacy.” Epstein replies affirmatively.
The emails themselves do not indicate criminal activity.Also included in the latest tranche is a formal request dated 2020 from US authorities seeking cooperation from the UK to interview Mountbatten-Windsor.
The request states that investigators believed he “may have been a witness to and/or participant in certain events of relevance” to the Epstein investigation.The letter claims that documentary evidence suggested Mountbatten-Windsor had knowledge that Ghislaine Maxwell recruited women to engage in sex acts with Epstein and other men, and that there was evidence indicating he may have engaged in sexual conduct involving one of Epstein’s victims.
However, the request also explicitly stated that Mountbatten-Windsor was not a target of the investigation and that US authorities had not gathered evidence that he had committed any crime under US law.Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied allegations that he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre, who said she was trafficked by Epstein as a teenager.
While maintaining that he had never met her, he agreed to a financial settlement in 2022 to resolve a civil lawsuit brought by Giuffre.The document release also contains emails that appear to show correspondence between Epstein and Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York.
In a message dated April 2009, Ferguson refers to Epstein as a close friend while discussing her business ventures, including a company called Mother’s Army.
The email is signed, “Love, Sarah, The red Head.!!”Other images included in the release show redacted photographs of unidentified women, as well as what appear to be luxury residences, hotel rooms, and a villa with a swimming pool.
Many of the documents are heavily redacted, with some pages entirely blacked out.The release of the files follows a deadline mandated under legislation signed by President Donald Trump.
While many of the documents raise questions about Epstein’s extensive network and associations, officials have cautioned that the presence of names or images in the files does not, on its own, indicate criminal wrongdoing.BBC News has contacted Mountbatten-Windsor for further comment.
Leave a Reply