Prince Andrew’s Contact with Epstein Extended Until 2015, Report Reveals
Prince Andrew maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein for five years longer than he previously claimed, according to newly released emails. The correspondence included discussions about business opportunities in China, contradicting Andrew’s assertions made during a 2019 BBC interview where he stated he had not spoken to Epstein since December 2010.
The emails, attributed to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, indicate that Andrew provided Epstein with information about a potential security venture in December 2015. This revelation comes from a report published by the Times of London and Reason, highlighting a timeline that suggests the Duke of York was in touch with Epstein even after multiple sex abuse allegations against the financier surfaced.
In a notable email dated February 2011, Andrew reportedly encouraged Epstein to “keep in close touch” and mentioned they would “play some more soon.” This correspondence occurred a year after Virginia Giuffre publicly accused Andrew of sexual misconduct, raising further questions about his relationship with Epstein.
Business Discussions Amid Controversy
The emails also show that Andrew and Epstein discussed the rising demand for private security among wealthy Chinese families due to a surge in kidnappings. Epstein, in an email dated December 19, 2015, informed Barak of this trend, mentioning that wealthy Chinese were looking to start personal protection companies in Beijing. When Barak inquired about the source of this information, Epstein replied simply with “Andrew,” referring to Prince Andrew.
This revelation comes after Andrew’s involvement in welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping to the UK in 2015, which further complicates his already controversial ties to international figures. The Duke of York has faced scrutiny for his connections to individuals linked to espionage, including Yang Tengbo, who has been accused of being a Chinese spy, a claim Yang denies.
Previous Denials and Ongoing Scrutiny
Prince Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In a November 2019 interview with BBC Newsnight, he stated he visited Epstein in 2010 solely to end their friendship, claiming he had no further contact after that. Despite these assertions, Andrew had traveled multiple times on Epstein’s private jet and visited his Caribbean island, Little St. James.
In 2022, Andrew settled a civil claim with Virginia Giuffre for approximately $16 million, without admitting any guilt. Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexual assault, tragically died by suicide in April 2023 in Western Australia.
Recent comments made by Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, have reignited the discussion surrounding Andrew’s relationship with Epstein. Maxwell claimed she did not introduce Andrew to Epstein, suggesting that it was Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who encouraged their friendship. She labeled the allegations against Andrew as “bulls–t” claims designed to damage the Royal Family’s reputation.
As the situation develops, neither Barak nor Andrew has publicly addressed the latest allegations stemming from the leaked emails. Buckingham Palace has not issued an official response to the reports, leaving many questions unanswered regarding the extent of Andrew’s ties to Epstein and the implications for the royal family.
The ongoing revelations not only challenge Prince Andrew’s past statements but also highlight the intricate web of relationships that connected him to one of the most notorious figures in modern history. The ramifications of these findings may continue to unfold in the public eye.
