When interior designer Clare Hazell married Arthur Edward Guinness, the Earl of Iveagh and head of the renowned brewing dynasty, she ascended into the highest echelons of British aristocracy. This remarkable transformation saw the softly-spoken 27-year-old from Reading become chatelaine of the magnificent Elveden estate, a position of considerable prestige and responsibility.
A Dark Secret Emerges
A comprehensive investigation by The Mail on Sunday has uncovered that before her marriage to 'Ned' Guinness, the newly-titled Countess of Iveagh maintained significant connections to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Documents reveal she flew on his private aircraft, infamously nicknamed the 'Lolita Express', an astonishing forty times over a four-year period.
Official Investigations and Allegations
Newly discovered documents from the Epstein Files, currently under review by US Congress, show that in June 2020, the UK's National Crime Agency contacted the FBI regarding the Countess. The correspondence indicated she was "allegedly a close contact of Epstein" and that an unidentified woman claimed to have been "sexually abused" by her.
This newspaper understands the accuser was Virginia Giuffre, the same woman who alleged she was sex trafficked to Prince Andrew on three separate occasions, including once while under-age. Prince Andrew has consistently denied these accusations. It is crucial to emphasise that there is no proof Ms Giuffre's allegation against the Countess is true, as it was never investigated by police or tested in court.
Tragic Developments
Both women have since died, meaning these allegations will never be formally examined. Ms Giuffre took her own life in April last year, while the Countess died just two days before Christmas aged 51, following what was described as a "cruel" battle against brain cancer.
She was eulogised at a private funeral at the picturesque Church of St Andrew and St Patrick at Elveden, the 23,000-acre Guinness estate straddling the Norfolk-Suffolk border. Her two sons, aged 23 and 21, led mourners in celebrating her life. The eldest stands to inherit his father's £900 million fortune and title.
Epstein Connections Detailed
The National Crime Agency documents show the Countess's links to Epstein came under scrutiny in 2020 after flight records revealed her accompanying the paedophile on forty flights to various destinations. These included his Caribbean island and properties in New York, Ohio, and New Mexico.
On at least one occasion, she was joined by the then Prince Andrew. Epstein was present on all but three trips, with disgraced socialite Ghislaine Maxwell frequently accompanying them. Maxwell, currently serving a twenty-year prison sentence for trafficking children for sex, was revealed to be one of the Countess's closest friends.
From Reading to American Academia
Clare Hazell's journey from her modest Reading upbringing to Epstein's inner circle remains shrouded in mystery. According to Ms Giuffre, who first met the future Countess as simply "Clare with a cute English accent", Hazell had arrived in America to pursue modelling.
However, The Mail on Sunday understands Ms Hazell first encountered Epstein in Britain during the mid-Eighties, after which the financier invited her to America. It was there she met Maxwell, with the pair developing a strong friendship.
In 1996, Hazell enrolled at Ohio State University, graduating three years later with a BA in philosophy. A university friend, now a 50-year-old studio engineer, told this newspaper that Epstein paid for Clare's tuition fees, accommodation, and provided a monthly allowance. The friend described her living in a £1,000-a-month rental apartment near campus - a considerable sum in Ohio - while frequently jetting around the world with Epstein and Maxwell.
Charity Position and Marriage Strains
At the time the NCA contacted the FBI in June 2020, Clare Hazell served as president of the West Suffolk branch of the NSPCC. The correspondence indicated the children's charity was conducting an internal investigation to determine whether she remained "suitable to hold the position of president", likely prompted by Virginia Giuffre's allegations on social media.
The NCA letter sparked a flurry of emails between FBI agents, with prosecutors eventually stating they saw "no issue" with the NSPCC proceeding with their internal investigation. The charity confirmed that "Clare Iveagh stood down from her role with the NSPCC before the charity's internal process had concluded".
A year following her resignation, she and her husband announced their divorce plans. Friends speculate about whether the Epstein connections contributed to the marriage breakdown, though no definitive conclusions can be drawn.
Legacy and Unanswered Questions
For those who knew Clare Hazell, the overwhelming sentiment is one of sadness. "She was a lovely lady. So pretty, so bubbly, so kind," remarked one acquaintance who spoke with the Countess after learning her skin cancer had progressed to her brain.
The source added: "Once she was linked with Epstein it changed her character. Her feeling towards the end was one of defensiveness. She wanted to protect her boys."
The extraordinary story of her association with Epstein emerges following the Netflix drama House Of Guinness, whose London premiere Ned attended in September. The Guinness family history has often been described as "cursed" following numerous tragedies across generations. To those loyal to the Countess, it seems this perceived curse has claimed its latest victim.
For those abused by Jeffrey Epstein, however, her premature death leaves many questions unanswered about the full extent of her involvement with his network and the allegations made against her.
