Prince Andrew's Epstein Connection: Unresolved Questions Persist Despite Royal Distancing

Prince Andrew consistently maintains he never met Virginia Giuffre and has "always denied accusations of wrongdoing."

New Delhi:

Prince Andrew's association with Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased serial sex offender, has kept him under intense scrutiny for more than a decade. Despite Epstein's death nearly six years ago, the controversy continues to persist.

The upcoming publication of Virginia Giuffre's memoir "Nobody's Girl" has thrust Prince Andrew back into the public eye. Giuffre, who accused the prince of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager, tragically died by suicide this April at age 41.

The royal family had hoped Andrew's October 17 decision to relinquish his royal titles and honors would conclude this chapter. Instead, it has reignited discussions about accountability within the monarchy. Once lauded as a decorated war hero, King Charles III's brother, the Duke of York, now finds himself marginalized.

While Andrew insists he never encountered Giuffre and has "always denied accusations of wrongdoing," critics argue that both Buckingham Palace and the UK government have failed to take decisive action.

Andrew has stated that his introduction to Epstein came through Ghislaine Maxwell in 1999, with interactions occurring "probably no more than only once or twice a year." He acknowledged staying at Epstein's properties according to CNN reports, and photographs published in the Palm Beach Post show him attending a 2000 charity fundraiser at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate alongside Epstein and Maxwell.

Queen Elizabeth II later hosted Epstein and Maxwell at Windsor Castle, and in 2006 they received invitations to Princess Beatrice's 18th birthday celebration, as reported by The Sun on Sunday in 2019. Epstein's subsequent 2008 conviction and sex offender registration raised further questions about Andrew's judgment as a working royal—a role he relinquished in 2019.

Giuffre's memoir details three alleged encounters with Andrew in London, New York, and on Epstein's Caribbean island. She claimed Epstein paid her $15,000 "for servicing the man the tabloids called 'Randy Andy.'" CNN reported that she also reiterated her 2015 declaration alleging an "orgy" involving "approximately eight other girls" who "appeared to be under the age of 18."

In 2022, Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre without admitting guilt but acknowledged her suffering as a victim of sex trafficking. He has consistently denied witnessing any of Epstein's criminal behavior, stating in a 2019 BBC interview that he severed ties with the financier in 2010.

Previous reports in The Mail and The Sun referenced a 2011 email in which Andrew allegedly told Epstein to "keep in close touch" and that they were "in this together." Meanwhile, according to a royal source who spoke with CNN, the Metropolitan Police is "actively looking into" allegations that Andrew requested a police bodyguard to find compromising information on Giuffre.

The scandal has also highlighted Andrew's business relationships, including connections to Chinese businessman Yang Tengbo, who was barred from entering the UK in 2024. A tribunal heard that Yang represented Andrew in meetings with potential Chinese investors.

Recently, Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed support for "proper scrutiny" of Crown properties amid growing calls for a parliamentary inquiry.