Ghislaine Maxwell says photo of Andrew and Virginia Giuffre is ‘real’ | Royal | News

Ghislaine Maxwell claimed the photo of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Virginia Giuffre was “real”. The infamous photo, said to have been taken at the Mayfair home of disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, shows Prince Andrew with his arms around 17-year-old Giuffre.

For years Andrew denied any wrongdoing; He claimed during a 2019 BBC NewsNight interview that the hand around Ms Giuffre’s waist could have been fake and claimed he did not remember meeting her. During the disastrous interview, Emily told Maitlis: “I can tell you with certainty that I don’t remember ever meeting him. I don’t remember being photographed.” He also doubted the legitimacy of the painting and used its location and attire to arouse further suspicion.

Andrew told Maitlis: “You can’t prove whether this photo is fake or not because it’s a photo of a photo of a photo. It’s very difficult to prove that, but I don’t remember that photo being taken.”

He added: “We can’t be sure if it’s my hand that’s on it, whatever it is on the left side… it’s on the left side.”

But an email from Maxwell, who was convicted today of sex trafficking, states that she not only introduced the former prince to Giuffre, but also “factually noted” that the photo was taken at her London home that same night.

Confession revealed by Daily MailIt represents a significant setback for Andrew and his infamous Pizza Express alibi.

One of the strange parts of the Newsnight interview was when the disgraced prince said he could not have had sex with Giuffre in London on March 10, 2001, as claimed, because he was taking his daughter to a birthday party at Pizza Express in Woking, Surrey.

Asked by Ms Giuffre and Ms Maitlis on the day in question, Andrew said: “I don’t remember anything about meeting him.”

Disgraced socialite Maxwell, who is preparing a statement to counter the growing press allegations, sought Epstein’s approval in an email.

“I was in London in 2001 when I met a few friends, including (redacted) Prince Andrew,” he wrote. “A photo was taken that I think he wanted to show to his friends and family.

“I never asked (corrected) her to give him a massage,” the draft statement added.

“I am going on the record as a matter of fact,” she said in the body of the email, adding: “Prince Andrew came to my house to visit me – (redacted) was at the house and they met.”

Yet he claimed he had “no knowledge” that Ms. Giuffre had “engaged in sexual activity” with Andrew or other “celebrity figures.”

Epstein responded by saying his statement left “too many unanswered questions”, adding: “Him and Andrew?…what are you doing here? Why is he there?”

Maxwell emphasized that she requested her deposition “as soon as possible” and was advised to say, “I was not aware of a massage with Andrew at my home.”

“These things need to stay, along with meeting with Virginia and refuting these allegations. I need this as soon as possible.”

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