Prince Andrew was photographed driving alone in his Range Rover near Windsor Castle over the Christmas period, conspicuously absent from the Royal Family's traditional festive gatherings. The sighting comes as a fresh tranche of court documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were unsealed, containing new and unverified allegations against the former Duke of York.
Isolated Festive Season for the Former Duke
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor spent Christmas away from his family, having been stripped of his royal titles and military affiliations earlier this year. He was not in attendance at the Sandringham celebrations on Christmas Day, nor did he appear at any of the family's traditional festive events.
In contrast, his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, were present at the annual gathering. They joined King Charles and Queen Camilla for the Christmas morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate.
The former prince's ongoing exile from royal life is a direct response to his widely criticised friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. This isolation was starkly visible during the holiday season, as he was spotted undertaking a solitary drive in Berkshire.
New Allegations in Epstein Court Files
On Monday, a significant batch of new documents from the Epstein case was published by the US Department of Justice. Among the thousands of pages are unverified claims from an alleged victim, now 35, who states they were subjected to abuse by high-profile figures in the UK.
The individual alleges they were taken to what they described as 'paedophile ring parties' in the UK by their own father. In one particularly grave claim, they say they were taken to Frogmore Cottage—the former Windsor home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex—where they were allegedly restrained and tortured with electric shocks by Ghislaine Maxwell.
The documents state the alleged victim claims Prince Andrew and other men watched this torture take place. These accounts have not been verified and form part of a vast collection of evidence and testimonies being released.
Further Claims and Royal Connections
The newly released files contain other serious allegations. The same individual reported to the FBI that after a party in Surrey, they were hit by a dark blue vehicle with a personalised number plate, driven by Andrew. Surrey Police has stated that, based on a review of their systems, they have 'no evidence' of these allegations being previously reported to them and are now seeking further information.
Additional documents include suggestive email correspondence from August 2001 between Ghislaine Maxwell and a contact signed off as 'A'. In it, 'A' asks Maxwell: 'Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?' and discusses plans for a holiday. While unconfirmed, speculation has mounted that 'A' could refer to Andrew.
The files also feature photographs underscoring Andrew's past associations, including images of him with Epstein and Maxwell at Ascot racecourse in the Royal Box in 2000, and at Sandringham where he is pictured draped across the laps of several young women with Maxwell looking on.
Ongoing Fallout and Investigation
Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on charges including sex trafficking and is serving a 20-year prison sentence. The latest document release is part of an ongoing process, with the Department of Justice revealing it has 'discovered' another million documents potentially related to the case.
Prince Andrew has repeatedly and vehemently denied any wrongdoing. He settled a civil sexual assault case brought by Virginia Giuffre in 2022 out of court, without admission of liability.
The emergence of these new claims, coinciding with the festive period, ensures the shadow of the Epstein scandal continues to hang over the Royal Family. It reinforces Andrew's profound estrangement from public royal life and subjects the institution to renewed scrutiny regarding its past associations.
