What we know about ex-prince Andrew’s friendship with Epstein
His arrest on Thursday for alleged abuse of power while in public office was the latest blow to the disgraced royal family.
Here’s what we know so far about the links between the late financier, who died in a US prison in 2019, and the former prince, who enjoyed a life of luxury and privilege.
information sharing
The arrest follows the release in January of more files showing Andrew sent potentially confidential documents to Epstein during his decade as UK trade envoy.
In a November 2010 email, Andrew was revealed to have shared reports with Epstein about various Asian countries following his official visit to the region.
The former royal, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, reportedly sent the American financier months later details of the trip, accompanied by Epstein’s business associates, along with investment opportunities.
At least nine separate UK police forces have confirmed they are considering reports linking the former prince to Epstein.Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor: Who is he and why did UK police arrest the great-nephew of the last Governor-General of British India?
‘Nobody’s Daughter’
In August 2021, Virginia Giuffre filed a lawsuit against Andrew, alleging that he sexually abused her three times, including twice when she was 17 and was allegedly trafficked by Epstein.
In her memoir, “Nobody’s Girl,” published last year, Giuffre said she was forced to have sex with Andrew on three separate occasions because she was trafficked by Epstein.
In the first incident, in March 2001, Andrew, then 41, had sex with Epstein’s girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell at her London stables home.
The second encounter took place the following month at Epstein’s home in New York.
The last time took place on Epstein’s private island as part of what he described as an “orgy” with Andrew, Epstein and about eight girls “who all appeared to be under 18 and didn’t really speak English.”
In a letter submitted to the US court by Giuffre and Andrew’s lawyers in February 2022, it was revealed that they had reached an out-of-court settlement to end the civil lawsuit against Andrew.
Admitting no liability, Andrew agreed to pay her an undisclosed amount. The amount was not disclosed but was reported to be more than $12 million (nine million pounds).
Giuffre died by suicide at the age of 41 in April last year in Australia, where she lived with her husband and three children.
friendship with Epstein
Andrew reportedly first met Epstein through Maxwell in 1999.
In 2008, Epstein was convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution in the United States and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Despite this, the two men were photographed walking together in New York’s Central Park in 2010.
Andrew claimed that this was the end of their friendship.
But according to UK court documents released earlier this year, an email sent to Epstein in February 2011 from “a member of the British royal family” believed to be Andrew said: “Stay in close contact, we’ll be playing some more soon!!!!”.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of trafficking underage girls for sex.
‘No recollection’
Andrew left the UK trade ambassadorship in 2011 due to his contentious ties to Epstein.
He withdrew from public duties after a disastrous TV interview in 2019 and renounced his HRH (Her Royal Highness) title after denying in the interview that he had sex with Giuffre.
He added that he didn’t remember “anything” about meeting her.
His mother was Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth was stripped of Giuffre’s military titles and royal patronages in January 2022 after she lost her attempt to overturn the civil lawsuit she filed in 2021.
On 17 October, Andrew, under pressure from Charles, agreed to renounce the title of Duke of York and said he would not use it.
His ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who borrowed money from Epstein, will no longer be known as the Duchess of York.
In October, King III. Charles stripped his younger brother of all his titles and expelled him from the Royal Lodge at the Windsor estate.
