Epstein files: Ghislaine Maxwell's email suggests Andrew and Virginia Giuffre photo is real
The former Duke of York previously claimed the picture could not have been taken in London, as he was in his “travelling clothes”, as ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship reports
Emails released by the US Justice Department suggest that the infamous photo showing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor stood next to Virginia Giuffre is real.
The former Duke of York has previously questioned the validity of the image of him with Ms Giuffre, formerly known as Virginia Roberts.
In an exchange with Jeffrey Epstein from 2015, released among millions of documents known as the Epstein files by the US Justice Department, disgraced British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell wrote: "In 2001 I was in London when [redacted] met a number of friends of mine including Prince Andrew.
"A photograph was taken as I imagine she wanted to show it to friends and family."
While there are no explicit references to Ms Giuffre in the email, there are references that match quotes from her memoir and public statements.
Maxwell says "[redacted] claims she was a sex slave for the rich and famous", which matches what Ms Giuffre said in her posthumous memoir, Maxwell refers to the subject of the email being "engaged in a campaign of media harassment with the objective of selling her memoirs to the highest bidder", and the dates and locations listed in the email broadly align with accounts by Ms Giuffre.
A short response from Epstein is included in the document in which he suggests some amendments to Maxwell's email.
"it should be neither on her first visit or anytime there after . nor any witness statement subject to cross examination. instead of no witness statment under oath," he wrote.
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor went on to pay millions to settle a civil sexual assault case to Ms Giuffre – a woman he claimed never to have met.
Ms Giuffre sued him for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after she was trafficked by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who is a former partner of Maxwell.
Andrew has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and has said he “did not see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction".
In an interview with BBC Newsnight in 2019, Andrew said he recognises himself in the picture with Ms Giuffre but he claimed it is not possible to prove whether the image had been faked.
He also claimed the picture could not have been taken in London, as he was in his “travelling clothes”.
Ms Giuffre told BBC Panorama in 2019 the photo was “authentic” and said she gave the original to the FBI in 2011.
The email exchange continues: "I met [redacted] in Marglargo and she said she was a masseuse and she said she did house calls.
"She did come to the house and was brought by her mother for an interview with Jeffrey. I remained with Virginias mother chatting until [redacted] finished the interview.
"Over the course of time [redacted] began working for Jefrrey.
"Prince Andrew came to my house to visit me - [redacted] was in the house and they did meet.
"The following salacious details I deny and are un true.
"I was never involved in any type of sexual activity with Virgnia on her first visit to the house she met with Jeffrey with out me being present.
"I never witness any type of sexual activity between Jeffrey and [redacted].
"I no knowledge of VR having sexual activity Prince Andrew Alan Derhctch or any other famous people."
Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison last year after she was found guilty by a jury of luring young girls to massage rooms for Epstein to molest between 1994 and 2004.
Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide.
The email exchanges quoted in this article are quoted verbatim and misspellings have been left unedited.
This is the Talking Royals - our weekly podcast about the royal family, with ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship and Producer Lizzie Robinson.