Epstein Information: New e-mail reveals Ghislaine Maxwell explains controversial picture of Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre | World Information – The Instances of India – Worldwide Dispatch

Andrew pictured with Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell/ US Division of Justice through Press Affiliation

Newly launched data from america Division of Justice embody an e-mail wherein Ghislaine Maxwell seems to set out her account of the circumstances surrounding the long-disputed {photograph} exhibiting Prince Andrew together with his arm round Virginia Giuffre. The message, dated 2015 and marked “draft assertion”, was despatched by Maxwell to Jeffrey Epstein as allegations towards each of them intensified. Whereas Giuffre’s identify is redacted all through the doc, the encompassing particulars, together with references to London in 2001, Prince Andrew, and the taking of {a photograph}, strongly point out that Maxwell was referring to her. Based on reporting by BBC, Maxwell wrote that she was current in London when the girl met “various mates”, together with Andrew, and that the {photograph} was taken throughout that encounter. She wrote: “In 2001, I used to be in London when (redacted) met various mates of mine, together with Prince Andrew. {A photograph} was taken as I think about she wished to point out it to family and friends.” Maxwell, who’s serving a 20-year jail sentence for conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse minors, went on to state that Andrew had visited her residence and that the girl was there on the similar time, writing:“Prince Andrew got here to my home to go to me – (redacted) was in the home they usually did meet.”

Ghislaine Maxwell Explains Prince Andrew–Virginia Giuffre Photograph in Newly Launched E-mail/ DOJ

In the identical draft, Maxwell insisted that nothing improper occurred, including that she had no information of the girl “having sexual exercise” with Andrew or every other “well-known folks”, and framing her account as a factual file of occasions.

Household response and contradiction of earlier claims

Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexually abusing her on three events in 2001 and 2002, allegations he has persistently denied, died by suicide in 2025. Her household stated the newly launched e-mail supported her long-standing account. Chatting with BBC Newsnight, her brother Sky Roberts stated the doc confirmed that his sister had been telling the reality for years and that the household felt vindicated by its launch. Andrew has beforehand questioned the authenticity of the {photograph}. In a 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, he stated: “I’ve completely no reminiscence of that {photograph} ever being taken… you may’t show whether or not or not that {photograph} is faked or not.”

Andrew has beforehand instructed that the picture is pretend (Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu through Getty Pictures)

In 2022, Andrew reached a reported out-of-court settlement of round £12 million with Giuffre to finish her US civil sexual assault lawsuit. The settlement included a considerable donation to her charity for victims’ rights and contained no admission of legal responsibility.

The draft assertion was a part of an alternate between Maxwell and Epstein as they mentioned tips on how to reply publicly to mounting allegations. Epstein, who later died in a New York jail cell on 10 August 2019 whereas awaiting trial on sex-trafficking fees, replied that the wording raised unresolved questions, writing: “Her and Andrew?… what’s the deal right here? why is she there?” Maxwell responded that she wanted the assertion “asap” and wished to make clear that she “was not conscious of therapeutic massage w/andrew in my home”. The alternate seems to sit down uneasily alongside Maxwell’s earlier public assertion that the {photograph} was “actually a pretend picture”. The broader tranche of Epstein-related materials additionally sheds additional gentle on Andrew’s continued affiliation with Epstein after the financier’s 2008 conviction. Emails launched beforehand embody a message from Epstein in July 2011 stating: “Sure, she [Giuffre] was on my airplane and sure she had her image taken with Andrew.” The most recent paperwork additionally comprise pictures of Andrew kneeling over an unidentified girl and emails wherein Epstein supplied to introduce him to a “stunning” 26-year-old Russian girl named Irina. Different correspondence reveals Epstein being invited to Buckingham Palace, and suggests Andrew’s contact with Epstein continued till not less than 2017, years after the previous duke had claimed he lower ties in 2010. In October final 12 months, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Andrew had been stripped of his remaining royal titles and would vacate his royal residence. He has continued to disclaim all allegations of sexual misconduct.