Recently disclosed documents from the United States Department of Justice have unveiled a significant email from Ghislaine Maxwell that provides her version of events surrounding the long-contested photograph featuring Prince Andrew with his arm around Virginia Giuffre. This message, dated 2015 and labeled as a "draft statement," was sent by Maxwell to Jeffrey Epstein as allegations against both individuals were escalating.
Maxwell's Account of the London Encounter
Throughout the document, Giuffre's name is redacted, but contextual details strongly suggest Maxwell was referring to her. These include specific references to London in 2001, Prince Andrew, and the taking of a photograph. According to BBC reporting, Maxwell wrote that she was present in London when the woman met "a number of friends," including Andrew, and that the photograph was captured during that meeting.
Maxwell stated in the email: "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." She further elaborated that Andrew visited her home and the woman was present at the same time, writing: "Prince Andrew came to my house to visit me – (redacted) was in the house and they did meet."
Maxwell's Insistence on Propriety
In the same draft statement, Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse minors, maintained that nothing improper occurred. She added that she had no knowledge of the woman "having sexual activity" with Andrew or any other "famous people," framing her account as a factual record of events.
Family Response and Contradiction of Earlier Claims
Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her on three occasions in 2001 and 2002 – allegations he has consistently denied – died by suicide in 2025. Her family has stated that the newly released email supports her long-standing account.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, her brother Sky Roberts said the document demonstrates that his sister had been telling the truth for years and that the family feels vindicated by its release. This contrasts sharply with Andrew's previous questioning of the photograph's authenticity. In a 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, he declared: "I have absolutely no memory of that photograph ever being taken… you can't prove whether or not that photograph is faked or not."
Legal Settlement and Royal Consequences
In 2022, Andrew reached a reported out-of-court settlement of approximately £12 million with Giuffre to conclude her US civil sexual assault lawsuit. The settlement included a substantial donation to her charity for victims' rights and contained no admission of liability. More recently, in October of last year, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Andrew had been stripped of his remaining royal titles and would vacate his royal residence, though he continues to deny all allegations of sexual misconduct.
Internal Tensions and Broader Context
The draft statement was part of an exchange between Maxwell and Epstein as they discussed how to respond publicly to mounting allegations. Epstein, who later died in a New York prison cell on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, replied that the wording raised unresolved questions, writing: "Her and Andrew?… what's the deal here? why is she there?"
Maxwell responded that she needed the statement "asap" and wanted to clarify that she "was not aware of massage w/andrew in my house." This exchange appears inconsistent with Maxwell's earlier public assertion that the photograph was "literally a fake photo."
Continued Association and Additional Revelations
The broader collection of Epstein-related material also sheds further light on Andrew's continued association with Epstein after the financier's 2008 conviction. Previously released emails include a message from Epstein in July 2011 stating: "Yes, she [Giuffre] was on my plane and yes she had her picture taken with Andrew."
The latest documents contain photographs of Andrew kneeling over an unidentified woman and emails in which Epstein offered to introduce him to a "beautiful" 26-year-old Russian woman named Irina. Other correspondence shows Epstein being invited to Buckingham Palace and suggests Andrew's contact with Epstein continued until at least 2017, years after the former duke had claimed he cut ties in 2010.
These revelations continue to fuel public scrutiny and legal examination of the relationships between these prominent figures, with the newly released email providing a crucial piece in the complex puzzle of this high-profile case.
