The Duke of York's relationship with US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein appears to have been more extensive than previously acknowledged, as revealed by emails included in court documents.
An email from a "member of the British Royal Family" to Epstein in February 2011, obtained from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), indicates continued contact beyond what Prince Andrew referenced in his BBC Newsnight interview.
Despite asserting he had not interacted with Epstein following a visit to New York in December 2010, Prince Andrew's connections with Epstein are under scrutiny due to these newly disclosed emails. The exchanges, uncovered during a case involving banker Jes Staley, show a familiar and amicable tone between the royal and Epstein.
The correspondence includes Epstein arranging a meeting for Staley and making reference to a future dinner with a person called Vera. This revelation contradicts Prince Andrew's claim that he had cut ties with Epstein in 2010. Photographs of the prince with Epstein in Central Park prompted questions during the Newsnight interview, to which Prince Andrew had responded affirmatively that it was their only encounter post-conviction.
The email exchanges beyond this point underscore a closer relationship than previously acknowledged, with Epstein reaching out to Prince Andrew to facilitate a meeting with Staley in London. These exchanges challenge the narrative presented by Prince Andrew, suggesting that communications with Epstein continued beyond the stated timeline.
Prince Andrew's association with Epstein, dating back to 1999, came under intense scrutiny after Epstein's arrest in 2019 on charges related to sex trafficking. Following the fallout from the Newsnight interview, Prince Andrew withdrew from public duties.
Inquiries have been made to the Duke of York's office regarding these revelations.